James looked out into the darkness. A single line of light permeated the night sky. Cutting straight through the blue-black of night. The vertibird passed over a ridge and revealed a bright, glowing city far below.
"New Vegas." James murmured.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Arcade asked.
"Not long enough." James muttered.
"You know." Arcade began. "You never did tell me how and when you met Hale."
"And I'm not going to." James responded. As the vertibird passed over a highway lined with caravans James noticed that large amounts of military trucks surrounded the entire city. It was as if it was ready so a siege of some kind.
"What's going on here?" James asked himself.
James cracked his neck as he stepped out of the vertibird. He looked around. The four vertibird fleet that had accompanied him from Boston had all arrived. The entire Lyons Pride stood before him, armed to the teeth with power armors activated. They stood on a seemingly recently built helipad. James scowled as a white light shone over him, blinding him before his eyeports adjusted to the new light. An elevator opened its doors and a line of soldiers wearing identical armor filed out of it. They lined themselves to one per member of James's posse.
James watched them carefully. Their armor was extremely high quality. He felt confident that their designer could probably give Arcade and Eden a run for their money. He noticed that the weapons that the soldiers wielded were also unorthodox in that they were slimmed down modified laser weapons. The experimental type that government kept in NORAD. James raised his fist and the Pride moved to counter the soldiers. Now the lines of both sides lined themselves one to one. Not unlike a game of Pre-War football. James stood in front of the Pride while another man in modified blue armor stood, arms crossed behind his back stood parallel to James. He wore a helmet with a T visor making it clear that it was President Young's design. It was one of the ones that James had found when scouring the National Archives while he was much younger.
The man strode towards James. James stood a full foot above the man, but the man remained indifferent, as if confident that he could take James in a fight.
"State your name and purpose for landing on the Lucky 38 Casino." The man stated matter-of-factly.
"I'm here to see Courier Six." James responded coldly. The man stared up at James.
"State you name and purpose for landing on the Lucky 38 Casino." He repeated. James reached into his pocket slowly, the man placed a hand on his laser pistol. James rummaged in it and withdrew a small, silver lighter. It had the Lucky 38 symbol on it and a personal, stylized 6 on the opposite face. He handed it to the man. The man inspected it before handing it back respectfully.
"Forgive me, sir. I had no idea it was you." The man responded.
"You know me?" James asked.
"Not personally. But I've heard of you." The man responded. "You can call me Axe, I'll have my men stand down." He said. He made a strange hand gesture and the man stepped aside.
"Please, follow me." Axe stated before turning on his heel and starting for the elevator.
"That was refreshing." Kodiak commented on the team radio feed.
"You think so?" Ash asked.
"Never met anyone so organized before." Colvin admired.
"Think they can take us?" Glade asked.
"Probably." James responded. "Let's not push it."
"So how do you know this guy, boss?" Dusk asked.
"Did a few jobs together." James responded. "Worst jobs of my life."
"That bad, sir?" Colvin asked.
"No question."
"We've arrived." Axe stated loudly. The elevator slowed to a stop. The doors opened revealing a huge, elegant living room.
"Holy-" Glade commented. The team filed out into the suite. A swimming pool lined the ground floor. The huge exterior windows of the window covered the sides.
"I always hated this place." James muttered.
"This place is amazing!" Dusk said, in awe.
"I'm glad you like it." Said a familiar voice. James turned and faced a tall, chiseled man standing beside Dusk. He wore a white tuxedo, drink in hand and cigar in the other. He grinned at James and waved at the suite.
"All mine now." He stated. He walked past Dusk and stood face-to-face with James. Even in power armor, James only stood at the same height as this man.
"Hale." James said quickly.
"James. So nice to see you." Nathan grinned. He started down the steps to the ground floor.
"Hold up." Dusk said. You're that guy from Quincy!" she exclaimed.
"You guys are welcome here. Make yourselves at home!" he announced, ignoring Dusk's statement.
"Seriously?!" Colvin asked.
"Cool." Glade commented.
"You guys are just like children." Dusk groaned.
"Still quite the actor." Arcade chuckled. James grumbled.
"James, to the library please!" Nathan called from below. James begrudgingly followed.
"So you still live in the Presidential Suite and not the Penthouse." James said cooly. Nathan poured himself a shot of whiskey and handed James the bottle. James looked it over before setting it down on the table next to him. Nathan sat down on the velvet couch next to James and sighed.
"Penthouse will always belong to House." He said, puffing on his cigar.
"Even after you killed him?" James asked.
"Especially after I killed him."
"Why? You helped him take over this place."
"Because I wanted this place."
"You gave it to the NCR though!"
"Because I wanted to deal with the Legion." Nathan pointed to a scar that ran from his eyebrow to his check on the right side of his face. It was now quite faded compared to when James last saw him. "Still have a score to settle."
"After all this time?"
"Of course."
"You dealt them yet?"
"No." Nathan sighed. "Even after inheriting House's belongings and the NORAD facility, even Flagstaff is beyond my reach."
"So what's this status of this place now?"
"Since when did you care about New Vegas politics?" Nathan asked.
"Since I noticed the build-up of NCR military all around this place. They looking to lay New Vegas under siege?"
"Hell no. I own this place. They're not going to go up against the Savior of the New California Republic."
"I see you've managed to work on that humble attitude we talked about. What's really going on, Nate?" Nathan sighed and downed the whiskey in one go.
"NCR's at war, bub. Only a matter of time before the stalemate up North gives way."
"Good or bad?" James asked. Nathan shrugged.
"At this point, I don't know."
"You were still NCR when you came to the Capital last year."
"Nope, contracting. Mr. Young wanted an audience, remember?"
"Oh shit." James said. "He still wants that?"
"Nope. NCR's locked him up somewhere in Baja."
"I thought he was director of the OIA"
"Internal Affairs? You kidding me?"
"That's what you told me."
"Right. You're East Coast. He was locked up ages ago."
"Why?" Nathan shrugged.
"What are you gonna do about it?"
"Something."
"Like what?"
"Why do you care?" James glared hard at Nathan.
"He's my friend too." Nathan puffed on his cigar and sighed.
"Axe is working on it. Aren't you?"
"Yes, sir." Axe replied, still at attention standing beside Nathan's couch.
"So what are you here for anyways?" Nathan asked.
"I was going to have a chat with Mr. Young, but seeing that he's indisposed…"
"'Bout what?"
"Clones." Axe seemed to flinch when the word came up. James pushed it aside and pretended not to notice. Nathan glared at James, trying to read his expression.
"I don't know much about the subject. But I can grant you access into NORAD."
"You can do that?"
"I own the place." Nathan grinned. "And New Vegas for that matter."
"What are you talking about?" James asked. "Isn't NCR territory?"
"Not anymore." Nathan responded. "Like I said. NCR's in war."
"And you're out?"
"Yup."
"For good?"
"Done."
"Why the change of heart?" James asked. Nathan's expression hardened. "Fine don't tell me. So you want to come out with us to the place or-"
"Whoa there, hold your horses. I need you to do something for me first."
"Wait what?"
"I need you to go find Benny and shoot this into that son of a bitch." Nathan smiled as he held a silver .45 caliber pistol round with Benny's name on it.