The whole group looked over at Regina with a puzzled look after all It was a good question and the fact that even she knew the answer was a bit surprising given that she was only as slave girl.

"A few days after the vision Caesar sent a few messengers to the mountain where he saw the dragon hourglass being dropped and they sent a long ranged communication." Regina said looking at me, "Even the slaves were all talking about it given that it was incredibly rare for Caesar to employ any old world technology."

"Well I guess it was a bit of an emergency so I can't say it's a surprise." I said finishing my cup of coffee.

"Wait so you're saying Caesar does have radios he just doesn't use them." Jess asked.

"We don't have nearly as many as the NCR and Caesar would prefer to rely on human power over technology of the old world." Regina said, "besides in situations like this he wasn't opposed to using it in an emergency."

"Regina I understand you have respect for Derek given that he seems like a good person and clearly has no intention of abusing you but why do you defend the legion." Jess asked seriously I mean it is kind of on my mind too but I'm sure she has a reason.

"The legion isn't perfect obviously however when you consider their stance on chems and old world technology there's a reason crime is almost non-existent within legion territory." Regina said, "In fact if you look at all the problems of the old world the technology especially should be regulated in fact I think it's the brotherhood of steel that takes technology and locks it away so people can't blow themselves up again."

"It's not about the technology but about the people using it." Mark said.

"That's true but do you ever consider that not everyone is good and you can't control every person even within your own territory." Regina said which caused them to look defeated clearly making a good point, "About 5 years ago Caesar found missile silos armed with nuclear missiles waiting to be launched and instead of using them on the NCR he locked them away until he could find a way to disable them."

The entire group looked at her with a horrified expression to be honest even my eyes went wide before it had time to register in my mind. The idea that Caesar had nuclear warheads was a horrifying thought although the fact that he hasn't used them yet just goes to show his dedication to his own cause. The NCR troops likely don't know that Caesar is on borrowed time and Lanius might not hold the same opinion. So I figure I should keep that to myself for now.

"I know the legion isn't perfect and I hate my position as a slave given that my passion is blacksmithing and not child rearing." Regina said, "but don't go saying the NCR is that much better when you have more crime and have actively forced people to join you through coercion and at times dirty tactics."

The NCR troops faces lit up with a little anger from Jess and Mark who tried to open their mouths to say something however they clearly couldn't given that she was technically right about that. The two of them calmed down and finished drinking their own coffee which you could tell they definitely considered it better than the stuff they were drinking before.

Hey Linda." Jason asked causing her to look over at him, "You said earlier that you played a video game which is something similar to those choose your own adventure comics that I used to read when I was a kid."

"Yeah."

"How did it end."

"That's a tough answer given that the ending is non-existent." Linda said causing everyone to just stare at her even myself as given that she played an MMO even if it was virtual reality still has a main story right, "After the ending of the main campaign which sees you ending the war with a stalemate of sorts your character journeys forward into the wasteland for new adventures which come in the form of an expansion pack which is like a whole new series of books."

"The war ends in a stalemate?!" Jess said looking at Linda.

"In a manner of speaking." Linda said thinking probably of the best way to describe it, "No matter whose side you take during the final wartime event which Derek will probably think of as a faction raid the outcome is the same. Both armies are battered and beaten being forced to make a retreat to lick their wounds and prepare for another engagement."

"So basically it's just a second battle of Hoover damn." Rebecca said a little dejected at the notion, "but ma'am how did you play into that I mean your character was drawn into the conflict how did that happen."

"I was wondering that myself because in my game the character is a nameless courier who gets drawn into the conflict after his package is stolen and he's shot in the head leading to him having to hunt down the person who attacked him to New Vegas and then from there he gets thoroughly drawn into the war." I said causing the entire group to just stare blankly at me but Regina heard the story before so she was only cringing slightly given how ridiculous it sounded, "before anyone says anything I know it's a ridiculous concept but the game's not meant to be taken too seriously."

"In my game the only defined aspect of your character is that they are a nameless mercenary who wonders the waste land searching for a job and with the reduced number of troops on both sides both sides begin hiring mercenaries to fill their ranks." Linda said, "like his game it's not meant to be taken too seriously given the NCR clearly doesn't like hiring mercenaries and the legion views nameless wanders as problematic."

"Damn straight I mean his bullshit story sounds more plausible than that one." Jess said in a joking manner before turning back to me, "So how does your story end."

I explained the ending of the game just like I had done with Caesar the day before in truth they took it quite well considering the NCR actually did have a victory in one of those endings. Now that I think about it Caesar might have been a little comforted by that notion of victory even at some expense, but they all did seem to understand that great sacrifice was always inevitable. Jess seemed a little troubled by the fact that you could side with Mr House or altogether kill Mr House and take over the leadership of New Vegas.

"So you could side with Mr House in your game." Linda asked kind of laughing at the notion.

"yeah why?"

"Because why would you?!" Linda said laughing her ass off causing the others to chuckle slightly, "Don't get me wrong he's got wealth and influence but he's the descendant of the original Robert House in Truth he's just a trust fund brat who doesn't understand how different the world is from his ancestors generation."

"Fallout New Vegas Mr House was the exact same Robert House who was alive back before the war." I said which caused everyone to stare at me shocked, "In fallout Mr House was a powerful and influential man who graduated from CIT and kept himself alive for over 200 years with technology that put his brain into a computer while keeping his body in a type of stasis."

"Well you said your game wasn't meant to be taken seriously." Mark said, "I mean I think I know my science and that just sounds impossible."

"Well as we've discussed there are differences between this world and the games we played so I'm not counting on anything to be honest."

"Yeah it's probably better that way." Linda said, "I mean someone up there is calling themselves Mr House and will probably have to deal with them sooner or later."

I pulled the meat and several plates out from my inventory from this morning which didn't seem to rot or age which was good as day old meat sounded disgusting although still might be preferable to that sludge they call coffee. Regina even remarked it how it was still fresh despite being from this morning I offered some to everyone which everyone ate eagerly I guess they didn't bring many food rations with them considering they hadn't cooked anything yet. After the feast was over everyone looked pretty tired I felt pretty tired myself but I still had a few more things I wanted to check out about my menu meanwhile Linda was already asleep having scarfed her food down and laid down right by the campfire.

"As usual looks like the hero is starting her hibernation." Jason said looking over at Jess.

"Yep I'm worried she's going to get a stomach ache one of these days." Jess said smiling while looking at Linda.

"Hibernation?" Regina said looking over at Linda.

"She gets like this after she eats a lot of food she just starts drifting off to sleep even if she drinks some coffee first." Jess said, "It's kind of cute actually."

"You hear that, the captain soft side is showing." Mark said causing Jason and Rebecca to laugh a little.

"You three want to do push-ups or laps!" Jess said with her face a little flushed clearly embarrassed and I wasn't going to say anything but it was actually kind of cute and I guess Regina thought so too cuz she kind of giggled.

"I'm actually going to turn in." I said walking over to a lounge chair which there was the perfect number being six (three on each side of the room) which meant one for each of us given that Linda had already taken the floor which meant she was probably going to be a little sore in the morning.

I actually got an idea and absorbed one of the lounge chairs into my weapon which caused everyone to stare blankly at the slow absorption process because it took about a minute to be fully absorbed. I then brought up my customization menu and built a frame out of the metal which was as simple as adding pieces and drawing it with my fingers before smoothing and rounding the sides of the metal with some somewhat suggestive hand motions. After I've done this several times making cross bars and and legs I had a crude cot made of leather and metal that I finalized the creation and brought it into the world. The entire group gasped as I absorbed another chair and whipped up a second one for Regina which was easier this time given that after the creation of the first one it was saved as a sort of schematic and all I had to do was hit a button to recreate it.

"Do you think you can make some for us." Jess said asking on behalf of her unit which I could tell they wanted to say something but obviously they didn't want to overstep their bounds.

I nod my head and take the other chairs in and then create five more which I guess the combined total of chairs was more than just one cot so in truth I still have plenty of material left over. Each of them took a card and place them in uniform positions all lined side by side with each other all the girls side by side and the boys side by side. I left my cot where it was and Regina put hers next to mine which got Jess's attention.

"Hey Regina you can sleep over with the other girls." Jess said looking at her curiously.

"It's fine me and him are in a party so it would probably be better just to sleep together."

"but don't you find it just a little inappropriate." Rebecca chimed in coming over, "I mean it's not like you're sharing a bed but it's still a little awkward right?"

"Well we did share a bed last night." Regina said causing everyone to look at me with a mix of emotions from confusion to jealousy.

"What did you all want me to make her sleep on the floor? my tent only had one bed so I just put a pillow in between us and she took one side and I took the other." I said which got them to realize that nothing happened.

"I told you before master Derek I would have been fine taking the floor I mean your tent was carpeted and kind of nice so it was better than where I usually sleep." Regina said which caused everyone to look at her with some sympathy.

"That's not the point Regina." I say, "You're not a dog that has to sleep on the floor."

"I..." Regina looked a little shy all of a sudden, "I'm just not used to being treated as an equal."

"What about when you were with your uncle he did teach you blacksmithing when he could have been arrested for it so what was he like?" I asked.

"My uncle did treat me well, he gave me Three meals a day and did give me a bed to sleep on which is why it caught me off guard when he sold me." Regina said sadly, "I suppose my uncle treated me with some equality but that last part is still on my mind."

"Well if we get the chance one day would you like to go and ask him." I say, "Sooner or later we'll be traveling that way right It wouldn't take us long to go and ask him a question or two."

Regina's eyes lit up when I said this, "Would you really be willing to do that."

"Yeah it's no problem." I said as Regina looked like she was ready to cry but she just stood there smiling before laying down on the cot next to mine.

I looked over to see the NCR troops just staring at me before Jess spoke up and said, "You really are too nice to have been summoned by the legion."

I took it as a compliment and waved them off before laying down on my cot. As I lay down I began using the leather and metal in my inventory to craft some crude armor for Regina It was basically just cloth and leather pants with thin metal plates forming shin guards around her shin and knee. As for a shirt It was just a leather and cloth vest with a few plates of metal to cover more sensitive areas like the abdomen and around her breast covering the heart and lungs and moving it all the way around the back of the vest covering her spine and sides offering as much protection as the standard material could without making it too heavy and cumbersome. I then thought about it I decided to make her a bra and panties not because I particularly cared about her going commando but if she wore something like that vest without any kind of padding or material she'd get a serious case of joggers nipples (where someone wears a shirt and their nipples rub against the fabric enough to rub them raw and at times can even draw blood and as the name suggests it's mostly common in joggers) and I wouldn't want her to deal with that while traveling. The last thing I do before going to sleep is switch to the pincer shield to try to unlock combat shift while I sleep.

combat shift: designate specified weapons and switch easily during combat.