I'd like to thank Blinded in a bolthole who is helping me with my story in explaining the DLCs of Fallout New Vegas, both the Lonesome Road and Old World Blues. Blinded in a bolthole is making it possible to add these into this story which in turn enhances and deepens the plot. So, once again, thank you Blinded in a bolthole.

I've had someone ask me about why I didn't put a description of what Shepard or Mike (Courier) look like. It's because I want the readers to have the luxury of visualizing the Courier and Shepard in the way they want.

While Shepard had intended to go check up on the rest of his crew, to make sure they were settling in properly and maybe talk to them, he first needed to speak to Mike about a problem that still needed to be solved; two problems actually. One was what to do about EDI. Being a non-organic, things like food and shelter were not a concern, but safety was. EDI was alone in the Normandy and with most of its systems inoperable, she was basically defenseless. The second problem was what to do about the Normandy. It was a large ship, and despite its current location, it probably would not stay unnoticed for long. Someone might find it and, even if they could not get inside the ship, the consequences that would result from its discovery, Shepard did not find comforting. However, he was having difficulty with something that prevented him from acting on his other tasks. He could not find Mike.

The last time he had seen him, Mike was conversing with Zaeed while he himself went to talk with Tali. Now, it seemed as if he had completely vanished. Shepard had asked Zaeed earlier but the mercenary had just shrugged saying he did not know either. That was why he was waking over to Raul, to question the ghoul on his friends' whereabouts. The ghoul looked like the type of person who was not overly cautious around stranger and someone who offered information as long as it did not cause harm to others.

"Raul do you know where Mike went? I need to speak with him."

"Yeah he went up to the top floor. Maybe to talk to Yes-Man." Raul had obviously seen the questioning look on Shepard's face, "Mike went to go talk to his robot friend on the top floor, probably about you all. He should be back soon."

"Who's this Yes-Man?"

Raul shrugged, "I don't know much besides that Yes-Man use to work for Benny. Once Mike found him, Yes-Man that is, the robot has pledged to help Mike with his goals."

"This Yes-Man use to work for Benny and now works for Mike. Why betray its original master?" Shepard asked.

"I barely understand it myself but it has to do with its programming. Yes-Man cannot help but be helpful. It doesn't really have a sense of loyalty."

"So what's preventing it from betraying Mike, like it did to Benny?"

Shepard saw the expression of worry on the ghoul's face, "That I don't know. I've always been afraid that Yes-Man would betray Mike. But it hasn't happened so far." There was a pause before Raul finished, "However I'm sure Mike has installed or uploaded something into Yes-Man to prevent such a thing from happening."

Shepard stood there for a moment in silence before replying, "Thanks Raul. I'll wait for Mike." Then Shepard turned around and headed out into the hallway, thinking to himself along the way. He did not really learn much from his quick chat with the ghoul. He could have asked for more, specifically about what goal this Yes-Man was aiding Mike in, but Shepard knew that if he had asked, the ghoul would not have given an answer. Shepard did not want to put the man in an uncomfortable situation by making him betray his friend's trust, accidentally or not. Manipulation was something that Shepard hated. It was a think that politicians used, not soldiers like himself who preferred accurate information.

As Shepard entered the hallway, he saw Miranda standing there, leaning against the door frame of the open doorway he had passed through, "Miranda? What are you doing?"

Miranda smiled a knowing smile that Shepard had seen before, "I was liking for you. Just making sure you were ok and if you needed help with any upcoming missions."

Shepard had a feeling that Miranda was lying to him, as least in part, "I'm fine and thank you. If I have need of your aid, I'll call upon you." With that, Shepard left Miranda and went to find a place to relax while he waited for Mike.

"Well if they turn out to be a problem, you can deal with them the same way you did with the NCR and Caesar's Legion." Yes-Man spoke in a jovial tone; one that he always seemed to use when speaking to Mike, "They should hardly be much of a challenge against you, especially with your army of securitrons behind you and those upgrades from Big Mountain will certainly help. Those brains sure know a thing or two about robots, being ones themselves and all. Human and robot together, just like old Mr. House. Not anymore of course since Mr. House is dead now and the brains aren't."

Mike listened to his friend. He considered Yes-Man as a friend; the robot had helped Mike in gaining control over New Vegas, but not as a true friend such as Raul or Veronica. Trusted associate would be the more proper term, "I do not see them as a threat really, and I don't want to kill them. I don't enjoy killing unnecessarily Yes-Man. That's why I let the Brotherhood of Steel survive as well as the Great Khans. If anything, I see them as an asset."

"I'm sure they would help you. Who wouldn't want to help you Mike, besides the NCR and the Legion?"

They way Yes-Man said that, one would think that the robot was being sarcastic, if they did not know Yes-Man was a robot,
I didn't mean it like that really. No, not them, but their ship. It has space flight capabilities." He gave his robotic ally a knowing smile, "Humanity had space flight technology, basic though it was: most of which was lost after the Great War." Mike remembered something form his past discussions with Mr. House, "You still have Mr. House's outlines and plans for humanity where he said he'd make New Vegas an industrial powerhouse and have colony ships in space in a hundred years or so?"

"Yes I do. It's pretty complicated. Mr. House obviously put a lot of thought into this. Good thing he didn't put an equal amount of dedication into security, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to kill him."

Mike began pacing back and forth, "If I could obtain the plans and have some engineers study the workings of their ship, I might be able to incorporate their technology into ours." He could see it now. Mike would learn the secrets to their technology and use it to improve weapons, food production, security, standards of living, and various other aspects. Soon afterwards, humanity would regain much of what it had lost to the Great War and more. It would be almost as if the bombs had never been dropped, and not only that but humanity would be in space, colonizing other worlds. All he needed to do as take the first step and that involved learning what he could about the Normandy.

"Your old buddy here can help you if you need. I am always willing to help. We could send some securitrons off to investigate their Normandy."

"Actually, I'm getting ready to go to their ship. They have an AI aboard that they need to deal with and the only way for it to happen would be to allow their AI to take over a securitron.

"That's a splendid idea! I could send one to you right now, or later, whenever you need it."

Mike nodded, "Have it prepared for me within a few minutes," Mike turned and began to walk up the steps, intending to leave through the elevator, but he remembered something important. Looking back, Mike called, "Make sure the securitron's memory and data banks are erased, only keep basic programs intact. I don't want their Ai to learn our secrets, but I also don't want to drag a few hundred pound machine with me all the way to Quarry Junction."

"Don't you worry friend, I've already thought of that."

Giving a nod in confirmation, Mike continued towards the elevator and mentally began preparing for the upcoming trip.

Upon hearing the elevator doors opening, Shepard got up and walked over to speak with Mike. Once Mike stepped out of the elevator, Shepard stepped up next to him, "Mike, I need to speak to you about-"

"I know I know. Getting you AI off your ship. I've got everything prepared. Take whomever you wish to take with you then, once you're ready, come find me again." Then Mike headed off to one of the rooms in the suite, seeming to completely forget that Shepard was present.

Ignoring the possible rude manner in which Mike had addressed him, Shepard began to think about whom he should bring along on the trip. He immediately crossed out Miranda. Shepard did not want her angering Mike with questions and interrogations. Joker was also out for the pilot would slow them down. Than, Legion, and Jacob would have to stay here. Jacob to keep an eye on Miranda and the other two to do whatever they wished which pretty much involved being left alone to think. The same with Samara; she probably needed time to herself to meditate. Grunt and Zaeed were possible choices but Shepard decided to leave them here, mainly to keep an eye on the rest of his team. Shepard would have liked to bring Mordin, but the salarian was still busy speaking with Arcade Gannon. The two had been talking almost non-stop and it was difficult for anyone to keep track of what was being discussed between the two scientists. That left only Garrus and Tali, though he had already intended to pick them.

Besides being with him the longest, and being his closest friends, they had the skills that were needed. Garrus was a capable fighter and handy with a sniper. Tali was an expert on tech and would be valuable once they reached the Normandy. He also wanted to bring her along for another reason. The quarian seemed close to having an emotional break down and he hoped that his presence, along with that of Garrus, who help calm her. Another, more selfish reason was because he did not want to be away from her. She was everything to him and wanted to make sure she was safe.

Not surprisingly, he found Garrus and Tali in the same room. Garrus had probably gone to check up on Tali to make sure she was ok. That was not unexpected considering they were good friends. "There you two are. I need you both along with me on the trip to the Normandy to recover EDI." He turned his gaze towards Tali, "That is if you're up to it."

Garrus nodded and picked up a marksman carbine that was lying on the table. Tali hesitated for a moment before getting up to her feet, "Sure Shepard."

Shepard smiled and handed her a combat shotgun, the one Mike had given her at the Normandy which she had left behind in the entry way of the suite, "Mike's going to lead us back to the place where the Normandy crashed."

"Speaking of whom," interrupted Garrus as he looked somewhere behind Shepard. Turning around, he saw Mike standing a few feet behind him, accompanied by Boone.

"Quarry Junction. That's the place where your ship crashed. Getting to the place shouldn't be difficult. Worst we should expect would be raiders and radscorpions. Once we get into Quarry Junction however, that's when it will become difficult." Shepard noticed Mike looking over Shepard's squad. Only a few seconds later did Mike continue, "You guys don't have much experience in fighting deathclaws and I'm not sure of your skills and fighting styles but here's some advice for you. Deathclaws are fast as hell and just as tough. You do not want one anywhere near you because their claws can cut through flesh as if it were wet paper. In other words, be alert and keep them at a good damned distance away form you."

"What are they exactly?" Shepard asked, "I've never seen anything like them on our Earth."

Mike smiled, "No, they wouldn't be on your Earth. Not unless… well after the Great War, the radiation from the bombs effected many things. Before being what they are now, I think that deathclaws were once chameleons. Not anymore now."

"Will we be encountering any complications besides deathclaws or raiders?" Garrus asked.

Shepard saw Mike shrug, "Not really sure. The Mojave Wasteland is a dangerous place with only a few settlements here or there. However, deathclaws ate the only thing we should really be worried about." Mike took a breath, probably his way of relaxing or calming down, "Any more questions?"

This time Tali asked the question, "Where is your robot? What you called a securitron?"

"Outside waiting."

"We probably should get going Shepard," stated Garrus, "The sooner we're done with this mess, the better."

Mike waved at them to follow as he began to head out of the room. When they entered the front room with the elevator, Shepard saw Mike head, not towards the elevator, but over to the ghoul. When he approached Raul, Mike whispered something to him. Shepard tried to listen, without looking like he was, but only heard a few words, "…charge… keep a… crew… them try… Yes-Man…" Mike then walked away towards the elevator. As Shepard and his companions followed, he heard Garrus mutter, "Here we go again. Walking into danger without really knowing what to expect… bring it on."

Raul pondered Mike's words as he watched him walk away, "You're in charge until I return. Keep a close eye on Shepard's crew. I don't expect any trouble but if any of them try to do something unacceptable, contact Yes-Man. He'll take care of things." He understood why Mike wanted to keep track of Shepard's gang. These were complete strangers who presented a lot of problems with uncertain outcomes. Shepard's group did not seem the type to cause trouble, except for Miranda.

An uncomfortable feeling came upon him when he thought of the woman, one he did not like. Something in his gut told him to be careful around this woman. She was nosey, suspicious, and just plain rude; traits that he hated, and to further convince him that she was an immoral woman was the way she was dressed. Could she just put some damned clothes on? What is she trying to prove or announce by dressing as such? Raul simply shook his head and sighed as he turned and walked back into Mike's room, intending to lie down and catch a few hours of sleep

It was an odd coincidence that he was thinking about that woman because when he opened the door, she was standing on the other side, arms crossed and an amused expression on her face.

"Hello Raul. We haven't had a chance to chat with each other since we met. I'd like to get to know you better to help me understand the people of this world." While her face was one of kindness, Raul saw disgust in her eyes. She probably saw him as below her, as an inferior that she greatly wished she did not have to talk to or even acknowledge their existence.

Raul inwardly sighed, he had expected to be confronted by this woman and dreaded it happening. Now he wished it would have had happened later rather than now, "What do you want to know?" The question was pointless. They both knew what she wanted, or at least he had a feeling that he knew what she wanted. This woman most likely wanted information about Mike, New Vegas, their goals, and so on. Raul was determined not to give anything important away, lest she find a way to use that information against them. However, he could not ignore her completely nor tell direct lies. Shepard and Mike's groups needed to get along and trust each other. Lying would only complicate things in the end and damage any possible friendships. So the best thing to do would be for him to give hints: not reveal the full information but give a small part.

Miranda's smile grew smug, making him feel very uncomfortable.