For those waiting on me to release the next Chapter in A Needed Alliance, sorry that I've forced you all into such a long waiting. There are a few things you need to know. One, I played through all of Dragon Age again. And for the first time I've played all of the DLC.
The only one I was missing was the Exiled Prince. Shame on me. Sebastian is a really great and interesting character to fight alongside. And if I ever introduce Hawke, I'm gonna make it so the two of them are a couple. Couple of Rogues! Ha... please laugh.
Second thing you all need to know, I'm still working on optimizing A Needed Quest. Which is absolutely going to take up the most time. I've also entertained the idea of updating, and possibly continuing, Velvet in Moscow, editing the earlier Chapters of A Needed Alliance, and continuing Outer Effect.
Obviously, that's going to take a long time. I only ask for your patience and continued support. Knowing that even one person enjoys reading my stories is enough to allow me to keep on writing. Thank you all so much.
Also, I don't know why... But I was originally going to imply that Six suffers from Split Personality Disorder or something else along that line. The more I thought about the more I started to realize that's an awful idea.
A Needed Theory:
"I'm... God... I am so sorry... about everything." Six struggled to apologize to Ozpin. Even looking at the man, or what remained, was a challenge. The Professor laid on a Hospital mattress, covered in wounds and filled with medical equipment. Returning to Remnant whilst the invasion was still in its infancy to retrieve Ozpin proved not easy in the slightest. But given Ruby and the other team's relationship with the Professor, it was worth any risk.
Team RWBY and JNPR, along with Velvet and Coco all sat with the Courier inside the cramped Hospital room. "Please stop... it isn't your fault, Six." Ruby tried to assure Six, though the words she spoke were completely inaudible. The young Rose was still crying, and nobody was expecting it to stop. There was no one who was taking Ozpin's situation as awfully as she was. "He... chose to stay... to try to make sure a few more people could escape in time."
Weiss, who still loathed Six with a new passion, was about to explain that it was indeed Six's fault. How she was the only one responsible when so many innocent people were getting killed and also the reason why so many others were forced to evacuate Remnant entirely.
Blake, who didn't want things to get any worse, quickly stopped Weiss from making a scene. Now was not the time to create anymore conflict. Blake was someone who understood that the only chance at reclaiming Remnant lied with Six, the NCR, and all the other factions that inhabited the Mojave.
Yang's arms quickly wrapped around Ruby in an attempt to give the child some level of comfort. It didn't work in the slightest. How could you feel anything other than misery when you're staring at the same man who changed your life forever as his own life slowly fades away.
The Followers of the Apocalypse were now capable of greater feats as a result of the Courier returning to the Sierra Madre and retrieving all sorts of unknown technological wonders that managed to advance every technological sector in Vegas and Freeside.
But even with the improved and increased treatment options, it was clear that there was no way for the Followers to rescue Ozpin from his fate. Six was well aware she was the one who caused this situation. She was the reason there were now thousands of refugees in the Mojave, and also the reason more would soon arrive through the entrance if the rescue teams were successful. The Legion was now invading Remnant. If she would've just killed the Legate when she had the chance, these events never would've transpired in the first place. Why didn't she just kill him like she planned to for so long?
Without saying a word, Six stood up and started towards the room's exit. She needed to get out of there. More importantly, she needed to find a way to fix this whole situation and make sure Remnant is returned to its rightful owners. She would gladly die to make it so.
Once outside the Hospital, Six reconnected with Arcade and Dean. Arcade was wearing casual clothing that Six had purchased for him one night when she learned that Boone was taking Arcade out for lunch. And Dean, his choice of attire almost never changed. Thankfully, Dean was willing to wash his tuxedo every once in a while.
"Awful, isn't it?" Arcade asked, already certain of the answer given Six's facial expression. She looked absolutely miserable and filled with regret. "You shouldn't act like that." That was easy for him to say. He wasn't responsible for losing an entire planet to the Legion. "We'll kick the Legion off Remnant just like with the Dam." He gave Six a few shoulder pats. At the very least, Arcade seemed certain they had a chance at winning. "With all the stuff you managed to salvage from the Sierra Madre, including those Holograms, we'll win this thing in no time." Though she didn't feel like it, Six managed to smile for Arcade.
Dean spoke his own thoughts. "I'm not one who enjoys fighting on the frontlines." Six's smile quickly transformed into a frown. She and the rest of the Companions were all well aware of the fact that Dean subterfuge and manipulation rather than standard combat. "All the same, I'll remain at your side when we leave to give those Legionaries a proper taste of payback." The Courier grinned, glad Dean wasn't trying to avoid the Companions, this generation's anyway, first chance for all out war.
Six took a quick glance at the Pip-Boy's clock, noticing that she was late for a previously set arrangement. "Shit, gotta go you guys." Now that was a phrase that was all too familiar with the Courier's companions. "Mobius and I need to continue our private research." She readied up the Pip-Boy for teleportation. "Do me a favor and give Veronica my love." Despite now existing as a couple, Veronica and Six rarely came in contact with one another. Unless it was for work purposes anyway.
Even after the passing of several months, little progress was made regarding a potential invasion on Remnant and a way to shelter all of the newer refugees. Giving one last wave, Six vanished from the area, leaving Dean and Arcade alone to return to the Lucky 38.
There were several variables to consider when plotting out an invasion. One, the fact that no one in the Mojave possessed a map of Vale or any of the other kingdoms. Unless they manage to recover such maps, they'll need to send in several scouting parties prior to the initial invasion. That act would obviously cost a lot of NCR lives.
Two, support. The Boomers, the Great Khans, the Followers of the Apocalypse, the Kings, the NCR, the entire Securitron army, and the Brotherhood of Steel were all willing to pledge their support to Six's cause. However, the BOS and NCR possessed ulterior motives that were clear to Six.
She wasn't going to let either of them take advantage of Remnant's current situation. The people of Remnant's kingdoms were already going through more than they should as a result of Six's actions. Occupation under the NCR or BOS wasn't getting added on to that list.
Once at Big Mountain, instead of fast traveling right there, Six chose to instead make the long walk all the way to the Forbidden Zone. Docile Cyberdogs and Robo-Scorpions were encountered all the way. Six tried to avoid as many Cyberdogs as possible. They would constantly run up to the Courier, wanting a pat on the head or two. The Cyberdog's recent friendly attitude just reminded Six too much of Rex. Even after all this time, she still wasn't over it. She wondered if Boone would receive as long of a mourning process.
To escape the thought of the Companions who were KIA, Six shifted to wondering the way the Boomers would react when they realized there was no way for them to take the newly upgraded B-29 through such a small entrance. They could take some of the Howitzers for sure, they could easily fit through. But there was a very small chance anyone would witness such a plane soaring above Vale and any of the other kingdoms.
Then again, Ulysses never said that the entrance wasn't flexible. In some old sci-fi movies Six watched, the scientists would find a way to increase their own portal's sizes. Was such a thing possible with Remnant's entrance? It was mostly glass, soooo... It was just another thing to look into with Mobius.
Now inside the Forbidden Zone's Dome, Six started towards the entrance to Mobius's actual lab. The Courier was also quite unsurprised to see that X-42, the same giant Robo-Scorpion that caused Six to lose so many Stimpacks, was still in the long process of getting scrapped for spare parts. Six wondered the amount of Robo-Scorpions Mobius could make with all those parts. Certainly not enough to take Remnant back on their own. But she wasn't going to turn away an asset, no matter its size.
Minutes later, Six was now face to face with Mobius. Well, face to screen. "Ah, if it isn't my curious friend." Mobius greeted Six, who returned the favor with a nod. He was clearly filled with excitement now that the Courier had finally returned. Now they could continue their many unfinished experiments, explore new topics for potential research, and invent new theories. "I am glad you chose to return now instead of later. You may wish to take a seat."
Six did just that, taking a seat on one of the nearby rusty chairs. "You want to know something?" Six asked. She assumed Mobius would nod in response, if such an action was compatible with his current state of life. "No one agrees with my Multiverse theory. No one except you, anyway." Mad minds think alike, no? "They agree that Aliens are real, which really is something no one will disagree with. Not after the Zetans attacked DC. But even with everything that we've come across. Even after venturing to other worlds, stumbling across portals, and encountering so many other unexplained anomalies, they want to set the line at a potential Multiverse?" Was it really such a considerable leap from all of that? "Now that is just stupid, which means a lot coming from me."
Hours passed, and in all time Mobius and the Courier were still trying to find answers. Sure, it was, figuratively speaking, entirely possible they could go through with such a crazy plan. But the real question was, should they? The sheer amount of potential consequences would act as enough of a warning to steer most people away from such an idea.
Not Six though. She was willing to take any risks necessary. Even should taking those risks also mean watching the Mojave as it gets obliterated in an endless storm of fire. She owed that much to the people of Remnant. If she wasn't willing to take a chance at losing the Mojave, then there was no chance they could stop the new Legion and free Remnant.
"Soooo..." Six started, fingers tapping against the chair she was sitting in. "What are the chances this test is going to end in Big Mountain and the rest of the Mojave to... well, explode?" Six, even when she first presented the idea, maintained the strong feeling she wasn't going to like the answer Mobius would inevitably provide.
Mobius's answer came quickly. Considering such an outcome was clearly the first thing the scientist thought on. "A 60% chance, at most." Given enough time, there were a few ways they could've lowered the percentage to 30. Unfortunately, time was a resource Six could not afford to waste.
"Better than 100... I guess." She told Mobius, speaking causally, like someone who wasn't about to put the entire Mojave and, should things go really wrong, the whole New World at risk. After standing up and stretching a considerable amount, Six looked at the Pip-Boy's time.
It always seems like time passes a lot quicker when you're actually invested in something. "It's going to take you a few more months just to finish the preparations? So, when you think everything is ready, or you need someone to act as your assistant/test subject," Anything involving probes was not on the table. "Just give me a call."
Before pulling up the Pip-Boy and once again leaving for a considerable amount of time, Six gave one last assurance to Mobius. "We're going to make changes that no one else could even imagine. Not just to this world, or Remnant..." She looked over to the Forbidden Zone's security room. Inside were multiple camera feeds. One in particular showed the entrance/portal that lead into Remnant and other possible worlds.
"But we're going to find a way to change everything." The Courier, with the Divide now locked in, was ready to leave. "For some reason though..." She chuckled. "We need this crazy magic mirror to make these changes possible."