Boone watched Mike walk off towards the west, while he waited for the others to get out of the Normandy, and wondered what exactly Mike and Ulysses would discuss. Mike had not given an explanation about why, nor had Boone asked for one. He was not the kind of guy to pry into other people's business, it only resulted in him getting involved and he did his best to avoid just that.
Upon hearing several footfalls beside him, Boon looked over at the group he had to lead back to New Vegas; Shepard, Tali, Garrus, and EDI. This trip would be interesting for sure, not that he was either worried or comforted. Without Mike the way back would prove more difficult considering Mike was an expert sharpshooter and he was just a spotter. On the plus side, most major threats were likely already dealt with on the trip here. "Let's go. We have a long walk back and the sooner we get there the better." Then, without waiting for any signs of acknowledgement from them, he began the long trip back to New Vegas.
Rage coursed through Grunt as he stormed out of the Lucky 38 barely noticing the stares he received from the humans, nor did he even hear the robots when they called after him. He did not care what they did, as long as he was away from Lily. The mutant was unlike anything he had dealt with before; she constantly followed him around insisting on calling him this Jimmy and never seemed to understand nor listen when he denied her claims. It had almost gotten to the point where he lost his temper and went into a rage but, learning from his battle master Shepard, he had ignored the need and decided to simply leave the building altogether. This alone however was not enough to calm him, nowhere near enough. He needed an outlet of some kind and the only way was to fight something. He could not attack just anyone though, Mike would not allow it, nor would the other humans. Besides, most of these humans did not seem worth much of a challenge. No, he needed something else to fight, something strong and dangerous.
But where? Where could he go to let out his anger? Nothing other than a fight could calm him. This city was full of things to do but none of it was for him. Gambling involved too much thinking and not enough conflict. Prostitution was definitely a no go for obvious reasons; nor did any other of the activities like music or dance suit him.
"Hey big guy. Are you fighting in the Thorn?"
Grunt stopped and glanced up at the human before him who had spoken. The human looked like all the others, wearing dirty dark clothing and equally dirty skin. He almost felt like knocking the human aside and continuing on, but the word fighting stopped him, "What fight?"
The human cringed slightly but continued on, "In… in the Thorn. At Westside."
"Where is this Thorn and Westside at human? What type of fighting?"
The human seemed to relax a bit, "I can take you there if you wish. I'm going there myself. You get to watch fights between creatures of the Mojave or if you wish, be a part of the fights."
Grunt could hardly believe it, "Take me there human. Take me now and explain more about participating in the fights."
It was with a sense of relief when Mike finally opened the gate door and stepped out on the road that led to the Divide. A light breeze blew over him as he looked up at the reddening sky. The reddish hue of the sky had always puzzled him. Why it remained here in the Divide and not spread across the areas was a mystery. After all the years since the Great War, why did it still persist? Surely air currents and winds would have dispersed all of it. Sighing Mike continued down the familiar path, clearing his mind of the unimportant questions and focusing on his goals, one at a time.
As the pathway opened up onto a cliff Mike saw a familiar person sitting on the edge, gazing out at the wastes of the Divide. The person was a man whom had greatly affected his life, a man who had walked the same roads as him, followed him in search for an answer to a problem about the past, a man obsessed with the old world and a once great nation. The man before Mike was named Ulysses; once a courier and his personal enemy, now a helpful informant. As Mike approached Ulysses the former courier spoke.
"You've walked many roads and reached their end. And many more await but you came back down to the Divide, a path already finished. Why do you return here Courier?"
"I though you could help me with something," answered Mike, taking a seat beside Ulysses.
"The bear from the west licks its wounds and the bull from the east is in retreat, falling back to its beginning. The great wall is yours." Ulysses continued in his usual tone, not taking his gaze from the wastes of the Divide.
"There has been a new development. Something that shouldn't be. Something you probably won't believe." Mike continued to watch Ulysses.
"Many changes happen here. Civilizations rise from ashes of others. Echoes from the old world still continue on. A single man escapes death and ruins other nations while rebuilding a new one form a past ideal. He awakened the ghosts of the big empty and they follow him. Little from you cannot be unexpected and disbelieved."
"What if I told you that I found a spaceship?" Mike asked with a smile.
"Those from the old world achieved many wonders, some which we've both seen. An item of hopes and expectations was not uncommon before the Great War. Mankind's hand stretched towards the stars once, but they ignored the growing threat of their making, war. When the trouble past, after the apocalypse, those hopes were all but forgotten, unnecessary in the new world."
"Yes but this spaceship is not of this world or this universe. It's from another." Mike summarized the events of finding the Normandy, meeting Shepard and his crew, and their explanation of their universe. All the while Ulysses continued to stare out at the Divide not interrupting once. When Mike finished his tale he watched the ex-courier. A minute passed, then two and still Ulysses did not reply or even look at him.
"Well?" Mike finally ventured.
"The old world continues to survive and find other ways to affect the new and yet this ship is not of the old world though it carries the same ideas, the same hopes and dreams, the same ambition." This time Ulysses looked over at Mike, "Yet why do you seek answers from me?"
"I was hoping you could give me advice on what I should do. Their technology could be used to help us but I'm unsure if they'll let me and I worry they may challenge me."
Ulysses looked back out at the Divide, "this is your road Courier. Your actions will have an impact on the Mojave no matter what those might be. Everything you do has an impact. Creates ripples of change. Do you think using their technology will be for the better of humanity? All have seen what technology did in the old world. It only empowered man's destructive nature."
"Are you saying I shouldn't then?"
"Your road Courier. Your choice. You'll either lead humanity down a path destined to repeat itself in atomic war or change it on another course. One that you hope to achieve. One favored by the Bear."
"Nothing's easy is it?" Stated Mike jokingly.
"You ask a question that you already know. The roads you have taken show that."
"Well that's comforting," said Mike glumly. Then, as he stood up, Mike noticed Ulysses do the same.
"Before I was your shadow, following you. Learning from you. Trying to understand the why. Now I shall do so again. Can't leave well enough alone. Need to have questions answered and joining you may do that."
Mike was surprised by the offer, "I never expected for you to accompany me Ulysses. But didn't you want to stay here to protect the Mojave from the tunnelers and Marked Men?"
"The tunnelers will make roads that I cannot stop. They will come whether I stay here or not. As for the Marked Men. They are bound to this place, unable to leave that which created them. With the bear and bull in retreat their rage has shifted, now spent here in the Divide."
"Well, either way, it'll be interesting to travel with you." Mike replied cheerfully.
"Yes, let's walk the road."
The trip back to Vegas was very uneventful in Tali's opinion, so unlike the first time they had made their way to the city. Then, Mike had explained to everyone about the various places and dangers in this wasteland. Now, with only the human named Boone to guide them, there was hardly any conversation. On top of that the almost unbearable heat of the Mojave, coupled with the aching in her legs from all this walking, only served to put Tali in an unhappy mood. Despite that, Tali tried to find a way to improve their situation, so she hurried to catch up to Boone. "So how did you come to be acquainted with Mike?"
The human only glanced at her before looking straight ahead, "he was traveling through Novac and happened to help me with a problem of mine."
"Which was?"
"Something personal. I don't want to talk about it." Boone replied flatly.
"Alright then. Well… Why do you continue to travel with him?"
"Better than the alternative." He answered, "Gives me purpose."
"Do you have a family?" Tali asked, hoping for a subject that would lead to an interesting conversation.
"No. Not anymore." Boone replied, his voice getting more serious.
"What happened?" Pressed Tali.
"Carla's dead. Legion took her."
"I…" Tali had not expected that. Suddenly the man's demeanor made since, "I'm sorry. I didn't. I shouldn't have. I mean I know how you feel." She felt guilty for bringing up an obviously sore topic and she could relate, knowing what it was like to lose a family member to an enemy.
"No. It's alright. I've learned to move on. Had some help."
"Mike?" She guessed.
The man only nodded. A minute of silence followed in which only the sound of Garrus and Shepard chatting together behind them could be heard.
"Whom did you lose?"
Tali looked over at Boone; she had not expected him to start asking questions, "Oh, my father, Rael 'Zorah. He was killed by the geth on the Aleria. He was the last of my family." She stopped, unable to continue without feeling sorrow, so she changed the subject, "You were a part of the NCR right? What did you do?"
"I was in the first recon, a sniper battalion. We got tough assignments, rougher than what the troopers and soldiers get but the pay was better."
Tali thought she saw him relax a bit, probably from the change of subject to something less saddening, or maybe she had only imagined it. "What is you view of the NCR Boone?"
"Far better than most factions I have seen. It has its flaws like every group, more so now within the last few years than it did about a decade ago."
"What do you mean by that?"
Boone shrugged, "It's devoted to the same ideals as the United States, back before the war. Freedom, democracy, rule of law. They mean well, but don't always do well. They suffer from corruption and other political vices that consumed the governments of the old world which is still dangerous to this day, maybe even more so. We've expanded too far and neglect whom or what we hurt."
"But you still stand for them," she asked, "You think they have the right way?"
"Yes, not everything but most of it. The biggest mistake was trying to take New Vegas and the Mojave. We wasted a lot of resources and people and ended with nothing, though it was probably for the best. NCR rule would have been unwelcome and if we had won, the problems of being bankrupt, having low morals and corruption… it most likely would have been the death of the NCR. Best to slow down and build up strength than spread oneself too thin."
"So where does Mike stand in all of this?" Asking the question that had probably been bothering everyone else.
Boone was silent for only a few moments, "He is for an independent Vegas. He understands and even likes the republic, but doesn't fully support them. I think he is trying to save the NCR by slowing them down. I don't really know."
"So he and these family leaders work together with others in controlling New Vegas?"
"About right," answered Boone.
Tali remained silent, now only focusing on her surroundings; the broken road they were walking on, billboards with fading paint, and the sand. She did not like this place, not one bit and, looking ahead, was relieved to see the custom-made wall of New Vegas in the distance.
"So," began Miranda, "Mike was once a simple courier who helped those in need, be they his companions, or those with loyalty to New Vegas. He also helped those, mainly the casino leaders, in taking control of the city after Mr. House's death. Drove the Legion and NCR from the Mojave and Hoover Dam. Then there are various groups who support this independent Vegas."
"I would say you have summed it all up," replied Raul.
"Just who is this Mike?" Demanded Miranda.
"I thought it was obvious. He's unique." Raul simply stated, "If you're surprised by all that he's done then you'll be even more shocked. He's done more than what I've said some that even I don't know seniora, though I don't think you ought surprised by the accomplishments of one man, if what you said about Shepard is correct."
She could not argue against that. Shepard had accomplished things that likely no other person could have. However she now knew that Mike was one of the rulers of this city, though she had already suspected such. This bit of information provided mixed results, both good and bad. As a ruler Mike had influence and power which gave him a tremendous advantage over them. He could be a danger if he decided to turn against them. However, there was a bright side. As a ruler, especially of a city that had faced a change in ownership and near conquest, his position was not likely very stable. If he proved to be a problem, they might be able to cause problems of their own.
"Well thank you Mr. Raul. You have been very kind in answering my questions."
"One of the things I'm good at seniora," replied Raul.
Turning her back on the ghoul, Miranda made her way to the elevator, unsure herself where she was going. All she needed was somewhere to gather her thoughts then tell Shepard once he got back.
"Shepard, I am concerned about how you've been lately," said Garrus, walking beside Shepard a good distance away from Mike where they could not be overheard. "You haven't been yourself lately. You seem to, if I may say plainly, be giving up control and blindly following Mike."
A sad frown appeared on Shepard's face, "I was at first, hoping to trust Mike without expecting consequences. Maybe blindly thinking he was different from most people, but now I know better." The frown changed from sad to angry, "Now I know his true intentions and I can't be the good guy anymore. I didn't want to resort to this but I am left with no choice. We use him if we have to and watch his moves. If things go smoothly, there will be no problems."
"And if that doesn't happen?" Asked Garrus hesitantly.
"Then Mike will be facing a very dangerous enemy." Stated Shepard, his voice dead serious.