The companions ran through the darkness, moonlight their only guide, the sound of the others boots their only comfort. So long as they stayed together they could see this through, or at least that is what they told themselves. They never spoke to each other as they ran; the only sound they made was their heavy breathing and yelps of pain if they ran into something sharp. More than once Perry tripped and collapsed on the ground. Jesse would immediately stop and help him up. He was not going to abandon the only friend he's had in years, not now or ever.

After almost an hour of running through the darkness they approached a mangled and rusted metal fence that spread far into the distance. Jesse leapt onto the fence and began climbing up. He reached the top and extremely carefully etched his way over the barbed wiring. He landed on the ground; he groaned from the force of impact and his own exhaustion but slowly stood up again. Perry watched the whole thing, while he did the distant sounds of his lost companion reached his ears. He didn't know how long it would take for Fawkes to catch up; all he could think was how were they going to get out of this?

Jesse looked at Perry through the fence, "Come on! Climb over already." Perry stayed in place. He looked down at his mangled body and broken armour. He could feel the skin that had fused with the metal; he couldn't take it off him if he tried. There was no way he could climb over this fence with this weight holding him down. He shook his head.

"You got a better idea Mr Wanderer?" Jesse asked sarcastically. Perry looked left and right along the fence, his only option was the hope there may be an entrance somewhere, he just had to find it. He pointed to his left and then at himself. He then pointed at Jesse then to the distant images beyond him. Jesse looked behind him and studied the dark silhouettes of the ancient base. They must have arrived at this Area 51.

"You sure it's such a good idea to split up? How will I find you?" Perry smiled and tapped his Pipboy, he then tapped his right ear, Jesse had no idea what that meant but decided it's best not to argue. The longer they spent here the less time they had to escape that thing that was chasing them.

"Alright, I'll admit I have no idea what you mean by that, but I'm going to trust you. We'll get out of this okay?" Jesse wasn't sure if he was trying to encourage Perry or himself. Perry just pointed at his own heart, smiled, and then ran to his left along the fence into the darkness. Jesse wasted no more time, he turned around and sprinted towards the ancient base. He hated being apart from The Wanderer at a time like this, but least he could scout the base by the time they met up again.

After only a few minutes of running through the sandy, plant covered wilderness the ground suddenly felt flat and artificial. Jesse had found concrete so the base mustn't be far off. He couldn't see much in the moonlit darkness, only vague shapes of broken trucks, scattered crates and lots of skeletons. He stopped running at this point and allowed himself to regain his breathe. He planted his hand on his chest and breathed in then out until he could at least feel his heartbeat slowing down. With a final sharp breathe he straightened up and walked on. He drew his laser pistol and searched the darkness, weapon at the ready. His eyes adjusted to the dim light and he studied his environment.

Stretching parallel to the line of buildings was a road, far too long for any purpose Jesse could think up and completely lacking any start or end. Whatever drove along this slice of road Jesse couldn't fathom. He then turned around and walked towards the closest building to him. It was massive, spreading a hundred metres away and higher than any building he had ever seen. The seclusion of this base must have protected it from the bombs. The place was completely dead, there was no movement save for the flapping of meaningless flags. Jesse looked up at the old world flag and shuddered; it brought back memories of the Rancher and reignited his fears.

No! Focus you idiot. Look around, see if there's anything you and Perry can use on that monster. This is an army base, there must be something.

The building he approached looked like an enormous warehouse, its doors slightly apart and whistling in the wind. Jesse hated that sound; it spoke to the primal part of his consciousness, the part of the human mind still alive from when humans fought with sticks and rocks. The doors were the entrance to a cave, the whistling was the breathing of a predator waiting for him to enter. He had to fight his instincts, the world is dead, and this base is abandoned. Just enter, there's nothing there.

Jesse covered to the left of the door and peered sideways into the warehouse. He couldn't see a thing inside; the light from the moon couldn't help him. He gulped and walked through the doors. He couldn't see a damn thing, his hands shaking from fear even with his pistol in his grasp. There was something in here, there must be, he's dead, he's so damn dead, what was he thinking, he was going to be ripped apart while still alive, his eyes would go first, then his limbs would be pulled apart, he'd have to watch himself be devoured, he…

Jesse rapidly backed up towards the entrance still facing into the darkness; his fears plagued his mind and forced his retreat. He suddenly felt himself hit the wall slightly to the right of the entrance. Something poked him in the back and he screamed in surprise. Suddenly the lights in the warehouse all slowly blazed to life, with hundreds of years of effort the power returned and revealed a completely empty warehouse stretching to all the walls.

Not a single thing was there except for the frightened courier and the light switch he pressed.

"Oh," He said to himself. "Well then… next warehouse."

Perry ran along the fence, every dent and protruding spike rushing past him. He didn't know how far it would be to some sort of entrance to this thing but there must be one… somewhere. Perry ran for twenty minutes along the fence. He didn't know how far Fawkes would be behind them, and running sideways isn't a tactful method of escaping your predator. But at long last, a small security checkpoint was revealed. A car was parked in the middle of the opened gate, surprisingly more luxurious than any ancient vehicle he ever encountered. Admittedly it was still rusted, beyond repair and plain useless but at one point he could tell it was meant for someone important.

Perry didn't waste time examining the car though and instead searched the security checkpoint for any signs of weapons. To his annoyance he found a weapon crate that only had ammunition to a gun he couldn't find, rendering them useless. He frowned and instead ran along the road towards the distant buildings. His legs were beginning to scream at him for a rest, but there was no time, at least not out here in the open. He begged his body to hold on until he could get inside, he's dealt with worse, he can make it. He must make it. Oh dear god he hoped he could make it.

The desert night was freezing his brow, the sweat on his face felt like small ice drops as they escaped his mangled skin. Perry couldn't tell if the cool air was hindering or helping his progress. He was just so exhausted of this. He thought to himself how often he felt that. The exhaustion, the effort, the continuing drive to live and do… what? Something inside him was always pushing him onwards but really, what was the point? What difference would it make if he just fell over dead now instead of later?

Perry stopped running and started jogging; he then slowed and finally stood in place. What difference would it make if he died? He thought about that question. He then thought about Jesse, about The Stranger, about his journey, and then finally about his life back in Washington. He spent so long looking for his dad; he poured every fibre of his being into helping the Capitol Wasteland get a chance at becoming something great. If at any point he believed that train of thought, that nothing he did made a difference and he might as well drop dead, then he would have failed absolutely. But he didn't, and look what he accomplished.

He couldn't give up. Not now, not ever. He started running again towards the base. He let himself know it's okay to feel these doubts, that no one ever believes absolutely in what they do. What mattered was that he did it for the right reasons. Even a presence can do so much to a life and the world. He didn't know what the future held but the only way to find out was to jump straight in.

Feeling like his old self again, Perry sprinted to the base and approached the nearest warehouse. He noticed that along the row of warehouses, all of them except the one he was standing in front of had the lights on. Thinking little of it, he stood at the mouth of the entrance and got his breathe back. Once his blood wasn't pounding in his ears or his breathing wasn't loud enough to wake the dead he closed his eyes and listened to the silence. He searched for any sound of stomping feet or roaring in the distance. He couldn't hear anything. A little unnerved by the silence he decided to try and find Jesse, the only way he knew how.

Perry held up his Pipboy and, like he did at the Megaton meeting so long ago, activated the extremely loud ringing that made him cringe. His Pipboy made the high pitched tone for a full ten seconds before the noise was beginning to frighten him and shut it off. The silence was as deafening as the noise. To his relief a familiar head popped out the entrance of the warehouse next along the row. Jesse noticed Perry standing in front of the next warehouse, no doubt the source of that terrifying noise he heard inside, and waved.

Jesse then left his most recently explored, and again empty, warehouse to reunite with Perry. His expression of relief was clear as day to Perry, even in the dim light.

"Man, it is good to see you again. I guess that's what you meant with the whole ear thing right?" Perry smiled and tapped what remained of his nose. "But I tell you, it's the strangest thing. I've looked through all of those warehouses and they're all completely empty. Maybe this place wasn't so important after all?" Perry stroked what remained of his chin and thought. He typed out a message on his Pipboy and held it out for Jesse to read.

That wouldn't make sense. There was an official looking car at the entrance.

Jesse read it and shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you." They both frowned and considered the implications. With nothing here that meant there were no weapons to defend themselves if Fawkes catches up. Both of them shuddered at the same time. Perry then looked at the entrance to the final warehouse and pointed at it.

"Sure, why not?" Jesse muttered. "Five-hundred caps say's it's empty like the others."

They entered the warehouse, neither able to see a single thing. Perry could hear the steps of Jesse in the darkness as he seemed to be looking for something. There was a noise and the lights began to blink to life, lighting up the entire warehouse. Like every time before, there was not a single thing inside except for the companions.

"That'll be five-hundred caps once we get to Vegas thank you."

Perry wasn't convinced though. Something smelt fishy and it wasn't just their body odour. He stroked his scarred chin and pondered. Why would there be power running through this place if nothing was here? Most importantly, why would there be someone official visiting this place, no doubt this has stayed the same since the bombs dropped and the car must have been there when that happened; so why visit?

He walked forwards into the empty warehouse, not really sure what he was doing. As his armoured boots stepped on the metal floor the sound reverberated back to him. Step after step the sound left and returned. He walked towards the centre of the warehouse and was just about to turn and leave. Suddenly the sound of his step was different. Perry froze. He looked down and stomped the floor again. There was that same tone, slightly deeper than the ones before. He turned around and stomped again. Yes, there was definitely a difference!

Jesse watched all this in complete confusion. To him it just looked like Perry was trying to squash some nasty radroaches using only his shoes.

"Err… Perry, there aren't any bugs there… in case, you know, you were wondering." The Wanderer was now on his knees dusting the floor with his hands. "Okay, I think that Salisbury Steak we had earlier has gone to your head. Come on, let's get out of here before that freak shows up." Perry stood up from his knees and looked around the warehouse. There must be something here, he could tell. But there was nothing besides himself, Jesse and that light switch…

The light switch!

Perry sprinted past Jesse to the latter's astonishment. He grabbed the light switch panel and tore off the outer casing. Jesse wasn't quite sure what Perry was doing and simply watched over his shoulder. Perry examined the wiring and the circuitry of the panel and knew this control did more than just turn the light on and off. But he could see no other sign of control besides just the switch. Perry stared at the panel; it felt like it was mocking him with its secrets. Jesse on the other hand couldn't care less about the stupid switch and only wanted to get out quickly.

Jesse strolled towards the door and shouted over his shoulder, "Most busted electronics work if you switch them on and off, if you think that switch will stop time then be my guest."

Perry's eyes shot open in realisation. Jesse disappeared around the door but Perry knew what he had to do. He rapidly flipped the switch up and then down. Off and on. Somewhere behind him something collided. There was rumbling beneath his feet as he felt ancient machines roar to life. Jesse ran back inside expecting to see that monster. Instead, he was greeted by the sight of the metal floor sliding apart, slowly but surely. Once the metal slid across far enough, something was raised up from the darkness.

The companions stood in awe as an enormous, Frisbee shaped ship rose out of the floor. It was held up by metal supporters beneath it and completely covered in dust and dirt. The front part looked damaged like it had collided with something head-on. The platform continued to rise up until the ship almost touched the roof. The platform eventually levelled with the floor and stopped, the companions then noticed three tables covered in bizarre looking technology the likes of which only one of them had ever seen.

Jesse stared in utter shock while Perry only smiled. He slowly typed out a single message on his Pipboy and held it in front of Jesse's frozen face.

500 caps was it?

Fawkes sniffed the air, one eye closed in pain, his spikes shivered in the breeze. His home was close, the scent remained. He followed it to a metal barrier and stepped over it like it was nothing more than a patch of grass. In the distance he could see a light. The scent of home wafted from it. He approached the light like a beacon, but he did not run. The predator inside him would not allow him to give away his location. He stalked his home, careful and patient like a true hunter should be.

While Jesse attempted to unfreeze himself, Perry decided to examine the alien technology for anything he could recognise as useful. When he approached the table he stretched out his hand to pick up the closest gadget. Suddenly, every object blazed to life. An eerie blue light radiated from them as the once dusty and inactive looking devices began to hum and glow. Perry shielded his eyes while the flash blazed in front of him.

The light changed. Fawkes stopped. It was no longer bright and pure; the light was different somehow. But he recognised it. A part of his mind remembered this colour; he must have truly found his home! He quickened his pace; he must not lose it… not again.

The light dimmed but the hum never ceased. Perry lowered his hand and examined the devices. They were all glowing, but he asked himself why they would do this when he approached. Perry wasn't sure how, but the technology must have reacted to his memories of such technology. A defence mechanism perhaps so those who don't recognise them could use them? Whatever the case, this was a gift and they must cherish this find.

Jesse meanwhile just stared at Perry's calm examination of… whatever the hell these things were. He looked up at the towering ship and gulped. This was the strangest thing he had ever seen, but why hadn't anyone else found this yet? Then again, it wasn't hidden in plain sight and most treasure seekers were as blunt as roofing tiles. He slowly approached the table next to Perry and looked at the wonders spread across them. Crystals, guns, and devices he couldn't even describe. He looked at Perry and saw in his eyes that he was familiar with these things.

"You… you've seen these before?" Jesse asked him. Perry turned towards him, smiled and nodded. He then reached onto the table and picked up a small disc-like device with lights covering it and symbols Jesse didn't recognise glowing on the surface. Perry knew them though; they were symbols he had seen on the alien ship years ago. Jesse looked down towards the table and found a small orb, completely featureless and safe. Deciding not to touch anything glowing he picked up the small orb and examined it himself.

Unknown to either of the companions, one of them had picked up his life, while the other picked up his death.

Suddenly the small orb in Jesse's hands snapped open, revealing a hidden compartment bearing two short needles. To Jesse they looked like a photo he once saw of a cobra. The comparison was complete when the needles bit down and latched themselves onto Jesse's hands. He screamed in pain and surprise, he shook his hand trying to get the thing off but it wouldn't release him. Perry, with the disc in hand, attempted to calm Jesse. Once he was still but shaking, Perry grabbed the small orb and ripped it off, tossing it to the other side of the room.

"What… was that?" Jesse asked, he was beginning to sound tired, his head throbbed, and the world began to spin around him. He fell to his knees, what the hell was in that thing he asked himself. Perry was starting to panic, his friend had just been injected with something and knowing the aliens that abducted him it can't be anything good. He shook Jesse, hoping to snap him out of his stupor. Suddenly Jesse's eye shot open, he was sweating profusely and his body was shaking. Jesse could feel it, something was changing inside him. From his hand something was spreading through his body. He screamed, he panicked and tried to stop it spreading but it was no good. He screamed louder, he couldn't stop himself.

Perry didn't know what to do; everything had just gone to shit. Then, as if all his nightmares had suddenly birthed into existence, he heard a roar outside the warehouse. His heart felt like it had stopped in his chest. They were out of time, Fawkes had found them. Perry tried his best to pick up Jesse and carry him, but where could they go? It was no use! There was another roar from outside and the sound of something fast approaching; Perry tried to drag Jesse as far away from the incoming beast.

Fawkes burst into the warehouse, his every disgusting feature revealed by the light of the warehouse and the glowing devices. His body was black and hideous; his back completely covered by the spikes and his hands had developed the claws of a monster. His face was contorted in animalistic anger and his teeth were as sharp as knives. His arrival had sent the door spraying ballistic metal everywhere, knocking over the tables and their precious contents.

Fawkes turned to the source of the scent; his primitive mind found only confusion when he realized it was that small creature yet again. It was dragging another creature which was shaking and whimpering in pain. His confusion turned to rage and he charged the small creature, he smashed his hand into the standing one, the force sent him flying to the other side of the room.

The remainder of Perry's armour protected him from the cuts of Fawkes's claws but the blow still knocked the wind out of him. He collided with the wall with the small disc still in hand. Pain and dizziness filled his head but he tried his best to get up. He looked over at Fawkes and saw him looking down at Jesse's shaking form. Suddenly a noise erupted from the alien ship and it blazed to life. A jumble of alien words boomed from the ship, Perry had no idea what it said but as the cannon underneath the ship revealed itself and shot Fawkes in the back he could guess. The ship recognised Fawkes as a hostile life form and was defending itself.

As the energy collided with Fawkes's back it burnt off several of its spikes. The creature roared in pain and fury, the spikes oozed a disgusting green liquid that glowed like his eyes. Fawkes spun around and charged into the ship, it couldn't get another shot off before Fawkes cut it to the ribbons and tore the cannon off. Its fury was a sight to behold as Fawkes made short work of the ship, reducing it to large chunks. With some effort it picked up one of the larger chunks and threw it at the wall behind Jesse, breaking through with a mighty crash and revealing the darkness beyond.

Jesse was starting to regain some control but was still shaking violently, whatever was in his system had completely spread, he could even feel it inside his head. With extreme effort he tried to crawl towards the newly created exit. Perry watched all this then heard the small disc in his hand suddenly beep. He looked down at it in his hand and to his surprise a small button appeared in the centre of the disc. Perry then knew what this was. A memory flashed through his mind, reminding him of something Jesse said not long ago.

Samson was a man who did more in death than he ever did in life. I always liked that message.

Was there not something he told himself he had to teach Jesse?

Jesse will help Mr House and when his rule is absolute we will approach him. He will be the face of the future.

No. No, the future must not be built on the failures of the past. They had to let go, humanity had to let go.

He will teach Jesse the meaning of purpose… and the meaning of sacrifice.

Fawkes had taken his revenge on the ship and was now watching the small creature crawl away. He stepped towards it, Jesse could only keep going. He just reached the hole, but he could smell the creature behind him before he felt him. Fawkes had done this many times now, small creatures trying to escape hopelessly as he drove his claws down into him. He hovered his hand over this fresh one, a single push and it would die…

A high pitched sound rung out across the warehouse. It hurt what remained of Fawkes's ears and he turned to find its source. The other one, it was lying on its stomach and doing something with its arm. Fawkes approached this small creature that smelt of home. Exactly as Perry wanted. The voice of his long dead father whispered through his mind, from a time he could barely remember.

I am the alpha and omega…

Fawkes picked up this familiar creature and held it in front of his face. Perry looked into the eyes of his friend and pressed the button on the disc in his hand.

The beginning…

The lights begun to turn off one by one. Jesse looked up and saw his friend in the grip of this monster, he was looking directly at it. What was he doing? All Perry did was hope that Fawkes was still alive somewhere inside that shell, and that somehow he could hear his apology.

And the end.

The earth shook and a bright light enveloped the monster and his captive. For a single moment Jesse looked into the light and saw the silhouettes of the ones inside. They seemed to break apart but he had already turned away from the light before he could see more. The force of the explosion sent him rolling away and he collided with the remaining wall. He shielded his face with his arms until the light vanished and the shaking stopped. Slowly, he removed his arms and saw the only remains were a new hole where the monster and his friend used to be and burning ash drifting through the air.

His body still shaking he managed to stand up and stare, the realization sunk in. His heart suddenly felt five times as heavy, his eyes welled up in tears. His friend, Perry… was gone.

The sun stretched her rosy red fingers across the Mojave Desert, in this land her touch spread further than it could in Washington at least for the present time. Her light touched the Courier as he stumbled away from Area 51, it would be hours before he found the road again. He couldn't explain it but he wasn't tired, he wasn't hungry, he wasn't even that thirsty. He felt his muscles and couldn't remember them being this big. Wounds he had sustained during the night were already starting to heal. Even his skin felt slightly different.

Jesse would never know that the serum injected into his body had increased his endurance, strength and regeneration but it would save his life and his brain in the not too distant future.

He didn't know what he was going to do now. Without Perry he had nothing left, what was he thinking giving his life like that? But he did, he gave his life for Jesse. He would always think of that moment, how someone in this shithole of a world thought he was worth saving, worth dying for. Was he really worth it though? Perry thought so, and he was smarter than the average wastelander. He knew not to judge the warehouse by first appearances, he knew what that technology was; Perry was something else.

Maybe he saw something in Jesse, saw something worth saving. Jesse clenched his fist at the memory and knew he had to make the most of Perry's sacrifice. He looked out to the road and saw a figure in the distance approaching slowly. He backed off the road and waited for it to reach him. When it was close enough he could make out the image of a caravan being drawn by a Brahmin and a crazy looking old man sitting on the caravan guiding it. Once it reached him the old man pulled on the ropes and stopped the caravan. He looked down at Jesse and examined his ripped clothes and sunburnt skin.

"Well, looky here Winona, we gots us a wastelander lost out in the 'ilderness. Wats you doing out here strangar?" The man asked in a overly enthusiastic way.

"I'm just… lost." Jesse answered, unsure of the man before him.

"Well watcha doing getting lost? Not good for the ol' noggin. Me and Winona here are heading to Primm, south of New Vegas, you want to stay lost sonny, or come with?" Jesse thought about the man's offer. He needed to find work if he was to make the most of Perry's sacrifice. He knew what he would do, he'll find work until he can get the money to enter New Vegas, then he would buy that beer he owed Perry and drink to his memory. Yes, that will be a good start.

Jesse looked at the old man and nodded. "Yes, please. I do appreciate the ride."

"Not a worry sonny. Hop in the back and let's get moving!" Jesse did as he was told and jumped onto the back of the caravan as it began its journey to Primm. If someone had been watching the caravan from afar, they would have noticed a man in a trench coat appearing seemingly out of thin air once the caravan was gone. The man's coat flapped in the desert breeze, his body remaining still. He then pulled out a radio device and spoke into it.

"Reporting." He said simply. A voice then rang out of the device that spoke of a hundred years of experience.

"What's the situation?"

"The kid is dead. Blew himself up to kill the freak." Only static rang out from the device in his hands. "Sir? What should we do if Perry is gone?" There was silence for a few more seconds while the figure on the other end pondered.

"It can't be helped. Continue helping the Courier but be discreet. We don't want him knowing about us or that might force a rebellion." The Stranger wasn't so sure about this now.

"Do you really think he'll help Mr House now? Without Perry to guide him he might do something we don't want."

"Are you questioning my orders, agent?" The voice responded threateningly.

"No, sir. I'll do as you ordered, sir. Reporting out." The radio clicked off and The Stranger stood in silence. Things weren't meant to happen like this. Without their ace to control they could only roll the dice on Jesse. Everything depended on his choice now.

Jesse rode the elevator in the Lucky 38 up to the penthouse. He wore Benny's plaid suit and was flicking his lighter's lid off and on. It was a habit he developed ever since he came into possession of this lighter; helped him keep his cool. This was the moment of truth, after everything that had happened, everything he had seen and learnt this would be the moment that changes everything.

The doors slid apart as the penthouse was opened to him. He had seen this plenty of times before as he did House's bidding but now was the time to turn the tables. He walked past the securitrons and past House's flickering image. His voice rang out from the speakers and addressed the courier.

"Jesse? It should have taken you four days to reach the Brotherhood of Steel bunker and return, what are you doing back here so soon?" Jesse just ignored the giant face that spoke to him. "Jesse? Answer me this instant!"

Jesse approached the monitor on the wall next to the bookcases and began typing on the keyboard. "Sorry House," he spoke aloud. "I've had a change of heart. This is a gift from your dear brother Anthony." Jesse inserted the data file into the monitor and watched with a smirk as the face of Mr House disappeared and the wall slid apart. There was no alarm, no reaction from the securitrons. Jesse breathed a small sigh of relief, the kill-switch Mr House's brother kept in his factory worked perfectly, though he admitted that for an instant he thought it wouldn't.

He casually strolled through the newly revealed doorway and entered the elevator. He clicked the button marked sub-basement and waited as the elevator lowered him down into the heart of the Lucky 38. Even now, here at the moment of truth he had doubts. Had it really come to this? Taking that job in Primm as an easy ticket to New Vegas not so long ago; it was going to be his last courier job before he found something more worthwhile. He was going to drink to Perry's sacrifice in the walls of New Vegas, and he did many times even now. He told his new friends of The Lone Wanderer while they drank and relaxed in his Penthouse, he loved those times.

But he has to do more than drink to make Perry's sacrifice mean something. Perry gave his life for Jesse, he showed him what it meant to let go of everything to do what you believe is right. He would do the same. The elevator door opened to an enormous black room, filled with machinery.

This is the heart of Vegas, dark and dirty while lights promise freedom and prosperity. If Mr House really did preserve the spirit of Vegas, than the old one must have been as bad as it is now.

Jesse strolled along the catwalk to the glowing tomb before him. Beneath the glass he could see the movement of something ancient but he didn't approach for a closer look. Instead, he typed the release command on the monitor and watched in fascination as the dried up remains of Mr House was placed before him.

"You… fool!" The corpse said to him. "Why… do this?" Jesse smirked; he had rehearsed this a thousand times a day in his head.

"Same reason as you, Mr House. For the future."

"Idiot!... I was… to build the future!"

"I know, sir," Jesse responded mockingly. "But you would have failed. Because you forgot something. You wanted to build the new world on the back of the old. Did you ever look out into the wastes? All this is the result of the Old World!" Jesse paused. He had to show Mr House he was wrong, only then could he claim victory.

"You want to build the future, but only these people know how to make it work. They have to decide it, not you, not the NCR, not the Legion and certainly not me. Humanity has to save itself or we'll keep making the same mistakes over and over. I believe in the NCR but they have to lose before they can grow. All the laziness is a result of their size and success and I'm going to make sure they fail, but they will be strong enough to build and be even better than before."

Jesse paused. He reached into his side pocket and pulled out Maria, the very gun used to shoot him in the brain almost a month ago. He never figured out why he lived from that, but his body had become so resilient since his journey with Perry. Maybe he imparted more gifts than just knowledge.

"You've lost Mr House, the Old World is gone. Today marks the birth of a New World. And if you're wondering why I would do as you asked for so long, let me repeat what a recent friend said to me not long ago." Jesse rose his arm up and aimed directly at Mr House's disgusting face.

"The game was rigged from the start."

The End

A/N: And that ladies and gentlemen is a wrap. I sure hope you've enjoyed reading this fan fiction as much as I did writing it. Once my assessment clears up from university I plan to start writing a new story focusing on the life of Alexa, Perry's daughters in the Capitol. It'll be called 'Isolation: Legacy' so either keep an eye out or place me on your author alert list if that sounds like something you'd want to read.

If there was any part of my story that may have confused you a bit and you want a better explanation to clear it up, feel free to message me or leave a comment with your question, I'll always respond.

A big thank you for everyone who has left a comment for my story as you guys have really helped push me to keep writing this story and to have confidence in my own skills. I would please ask though that you spread this story around as getting a few hits once this fades into the obscurity of the internet would always be nice.

If I take too long to get 'Isolation: Legacy' started feel free to send a message scolding me for it, that will probably get me working on it faster. Thanks again to all my readers, you all rock!