UPDATE 17/03: Yeah so I finally got round to finishing this chapter. I changed up a few things, like turning Mulligan from a Sergeant Trooper into a full Ranger and Brucie's name to BRU-C. Also I do know that they're called 'Robobrains' and not 'Brain Robots'. I couldn't really call him RBU-C now, could I? It's just way less cool sounding. Again, I don't mind if you don't, but giving feedback of any kind is super useful so thanks for doing that. I've been surprised at the response I've gotten already, small though it is. I'm hoping to upload Chapter 3 soon.

Chapter 2 – The Bear
Former Mojave Outpost, Mojave Wasteland
3 Days since the Proposal, 11:20am

"I've wrangled, and I've rambled, and I've rodeoed around
I've never once thought of settling down
But darlin', the moment I laid eyes on you
I knew my ramblin' days were through

Made up my mind a long time ago
When the right man came along, somehow I'd know
Heart as true, eyes as blue, and his smile as wide
As a western sky

Let's ride into the sunset together
Stirrup to stirrup, side by side
When the day is through, I'll be here with you
Into the sunset we will ride"

The fact that the New California Republic had been well and truly pushed out of the Mojave was no more apparent than at its former Mojave Outpost. The once hectic checkpoint had been bustling with troopers, Rangers, Merchants with their Brahmin and anyone else friendly enough to the NCR. But when the Courier had ruled the federation unwelcome, the once extensively used Outpost lied silent and abandoned.

"Do you think it's a bit foreshadowing BRU-C?"

The two patriotic statues of the Desert Ranger shaking the hand of the NCR Ranger had both been knocked down. They were lying on their backs atop the rock faces either side of them.

"Do I detect sarcasm in your rhetorical question Ranger Mulligan?" He replied in a generically calm manner.

"I think you do. Remind me of the mission brief." She pulled out her NCR branded water can to take a gulp.

BRU-C began playing a pre-recorded message. "Mission brief: Ranger Irene Mulligan is to be part of a top secret recon mission into 'New' New Vegas. Primary Objective: Observe enemy positions and strongholds in order to relay vital information back to NCR officials. Recon armour, Service Rifle and Silenced 10mm pistol have been issued to you for self-defence if necessary. You have also been granted an NCR Brain Robot Unit - companion model, codenamed BRU-C… Would you like me to read out the Secondary Objective Ranger Mulligan?"

"I'd rather you'd save it." She replied rather sardonically before taking a gulp of her water can. It wasn't that she needed to be reminded of her purpose here. Instead, it was simply a case of battling her disbelief.

The two stood in the centre of the road in front of the former Outpost's main building.

"BRU-C, do you know why they chose me for this job?"

He paused for a brief moment in order to determine a suitable answer. "Is it because your track record is virtually perfect Ranger Mulligan?"

She reminded herself that the Robobrain's responses were deliberately programmed to be as uplifting as possible. "No, it's because they don't mind getting rid of me. And that they think I know this place. I don't."

"You don't? But Ranger Mulligan, were you not stationed here prior to the Second Battle for Hoover Dam?" He questioned in confusion.

"I was, but that was before he took over. We never even saw it coming too, we were so tied up with that dam and the fucking Legion. Now look what's happened, whole place has gone to shit. I mean look at this place! I hope we don't end up like them ey?" She joked, gesturing towards the fallen monuments, before starting along the road toward 'New' New Vegas.

"Unlike like them Ranger Mulligan, we're not inanimate statues." BRU-C observed, before quickly following behind.

The two stared out over the dry baron Mojave Wasteland as they made their way down the hill, following the I-15 as they headed north. After half an hour of trekking with nothing but the strong winds to listen to, they came to a small abandoned building, undoubtedly a familiar sight within the wastes.

"I remember this building." Mulligan observed as the two stopped just by the entrance. "It's an old Police office they used before the Great War. We used to pass it whenever our squad got repositioned, which was a hell of a lot back in the Mojave Campaign days. Sometimes we'd run into the odd raider now and again, must have been some sort of hot spot for them. I can't remember what the old gangs around these parts were called… Vulcans? Vulpers?"

"Vipers, Ranger Mulligan?"

"Yeah, them. Were a pretty rare sight back then but one of them always seemed to have a Grenade Rifle, so we always took a hit when we'd run into them. Course, they were so drugged up they could never do jack with conventional weapons, so they'd be a piece of cake after their grenades had run dry."

"Shouldn't we be focused on our mission Ranger Mulligan?"

She gave him a puzzled a look. "If there's something in here like weapons, or food, surely that would aid our mission, wouldn't it BRU-C? We can't undergo what we're here for on just what the brass has given us now, can we?"

The bot remained motionless as it fell silent for a moment.

"BRU-C?"

"I guess so Ranger Mulligan." It suddenly agreed.

She unhooked her silenced pistol from her armor's hip as she poked her head in the door slightly. Inside there appeared to be little more than over-turned desks and cabinets, as well as multiple blood stains covering the walls.

"Just the usual, let's check the rest of the rooms."

"What about the signs of violence Ranger Mulligan? Should we not be cautious?" He remained stood in the doorway as she headed inside.

"It's not fresh BRU-C, and this building is over 200 years old. It's not like there haven't been others like us stopping here on their way down the I-15. Now get in here and help me look for valuables."

They both rummaged through the rooms, searching every possible place anything of use could be stored. After 15 minutes of finding nothing, it became abundantly clear that this place had been ransacked extensively.

"This is useless." She complained walking back into the buildings front room. "I think we should just leave and… BRU-C?" She realised that her companion was stood motionless facing the entrance.

"CAUTION Sensing aggressive movement outside, fast approaching, multiple targets. CAUTION." Mulligan immediately pulled the Service Rifle from her back and crouched behind an overturned desk. BRU-C made his way towards a doorway leading to a back room for cover.

After a brief silence, footsteps and muffled talking came within audible range for the Ranger. Judging by their voices Mulligan gathered that they were raiders. Despite their attempts at whispering, their conversation became more and more clear.

"Why can't you go in? It's just a bitch and a fucking robot."

"Did you not see her armor Danny? This ain't no Freeside whore, I reckon she's Brotherhood of Steel is what she is!" Mulligan lightly chuckled at the notion.

"Well if you know so much about her, why do you go and see her!?"

"That's it you little fucking runt…" Someone grumbled, and suddenly a young Raider-esque kid stumbled through the door.

"Oh oh shit… uh hello?" He called out. The Ranger peeked over the desk she was using for cover to see that all the kid had was a Varmint Rifle, and he was shaking all over. "Wanted to, to ask for some… uh, some water? Anyone?"

After Mulligan humoured herself by actually listening to the kid's sorry tale, she decided it best to do the right thing. She jumped up from behind the desk, Service Rifle at the ready and pointed straight at the little junkie's dirt-covered face.

"Whoa!" He blurted out. He immediately dropped the only weapon he carried and held his trembling hands straight up in the air.

"Alright you little shit, if you make one move both your head and that stupid Mohawk of yours is coming straight off!" She spoke quick and she meant every word. To become an NCR soldier you had to be trained to never, ever hesitate on the trigger at the right moment. It was a trait all of the troopers were forced to learn, and to become an NCR Ranger, you had to be exceptional at it. "How many of you are there!?" She demanded.

The gang member was sweating and shaking, and his face looked as if it were going to burst. Probably because it would do if he didn't tell the Ranger what she wanted to know.

"Speak!" She shouted once more.

"JOEY!" The young raider screamed. As the soon as the word left his mouth, before he could even move, his head (along with his Mohawk) exploded upon impact of the bullet that left Mulligan's Service Rifle.

She immediately jumped down behind her desk again. "Fuck…" She whispered.

The other Raider burst through the double-door entrance firing an Assault Rifle whilst screaming wildly. He littered the room with bullets until his gun repeatedly clicked empty and his screaming died down.

"Uh, hey? Where'd you go?" He questioned.

BRU-C leant round the corner he had been hiding behind and fired a Mesmetron blast at the remaining Raider. Upon impact, his eyes rolled back before he went limp and collapsed onto his gang member's headless corpse.

"Saves me the bullet." The Ranger remarked. "Guess this ransacked little building wasn't so useless after all. C'mon, help me search."

"Yes Ranger Mulligan." The bot replied, as the two hauled the knocked out Raider off of his dead companion.