October 25th, 2281, 12:13 p.m.
Spring Mountain Pass
He could breath... Somehow, he could breath.
With the realization came agony - his skin pulsing as if thousands of needles were pressing into it. He tried to cry out, but all he could do was gasp. He was pushed into a crevice between two rocks, his armor blocking all but a trickle of sunlight from reaching his eyes. What was he... he had ejected out of his armor and pulled it in front of the opening when the firebombs had... the firebombs. They had been ambushed. There had been pulse mines set into the ground and-
The Courier. The Courier had ambushed them.
The armor before him shifted, and Hardin froze. A moment later, the heavy metal was lifted to the side as easily as one might move dried wood, and the shadow of a Securitron filled his vision.
Hardin grimaced, the pain of his burns overwhelming him as the world darkened. The last thing he saw was the Securitron's screen as it flickered for a moment, the image on it shifting between that of a soldier and a well-hatted, grinning visage.
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6:35 p.m.
The Lucky 38
"So wait, I'm going to be talking to Mr. New Vegas?" Veronica asked incredulously.
"Sure are!" Yes Man replied happily.
"So where is he?"
"He' is actually a personality matrix similar to the ones that the Secruitrons are outfitted with, albeit a much more complicated one. Denn modified his programming a bit, as the old fella was none too happy with his ousting of House, but aside from that, he's still the same old DJ of Radio New Vegas!"
"You know... I always thought there was something off about how happy he was. Same thing with you, I guess."
"Hey, just because our personalities require us to be happy doesn't make it any less genuine!"
"Right. So when do I get to meet the guy?"
"Right now!"
A low familiar voice emerged from the same speakers that Yes Man was using, its voice calculatingly similar to on older, wizened man. "Nice to meet you Veronica. My name is Mr. New Vegas."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. New Vegas. Have to say I'm a huge fan! Glad to be on the show tonight."
"And we're glad to have you. Some context for our listeners, Veronica is a young, beautiful woman who calls the Mojave home, and has helped the people of the area for as long as I can personally remember. Recently, she became an even more well-known celebrity after a recording of her fighting at the recent battle of Hoover Dam was used by the NCR in a propaganda video. Now, Veronica, have you seen the video?"
"I have, though I can't say it captured my good side. If I had known I was gonna be recorded in such a way, I would have dolled myself up some beforehand."
"Well in my opinion, and I hope this isn't too forward, but I don't think its possible that you have a bad side."
"Mr. New Vegas, you just made my day."
"Only speaking the truth. Now, in the video you are seen holding the walkway of the Hoover Dam against wave after wave of Legion soldiers with the aid of another woman and a group of NCR Rangers. Who was the other woman?"
"That was a friend of mine known as Rose of Sharon Cassidy. We call her 'Rose' for short."
"And are you, as some stations within the NCR are claiming, lovers?"
"I should be so lucky! I hadn't actually heard that rumor! I suppose they're hyping up the 'lost love' story for their audiences."
"I can't exactly blame them. You two would make a handsome couple."
"You old flatterer."
"So is the recording accurate in regards to the events at the dam?"
"Yes it is."
"But you are not a member of the NCR Rangers?"
"Nope. I was given an extra set of their armor to use after my other set was destroyed. Not that I wouldn't mind being a Ranger - they're impressive fighters when it comes down to it, and without their help its unlikely we could have held out as we did."
"In regards to your final stand, what do you think about being considered dead?"
"I think it's highly overrated, Mr. New Vegas. No golden gates, and I was hoping for a choir of angles or two. In actuality, the Praetorians didn't kill me, and with the Courier's help, I'm well on my way down the road of recovery."
"And we're glad to hear it. Many soldiers didn't survive the Legion attack, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families they left behind."
"They deserved better, the soldiers I mean. They fought to defend their way of life. It wasn't their fault their leadership viewed the battle only as a means to further their own power. That's partly why I decided to fight for the Courier."
"What do you mean?"
"The Second Battle of Hoover Dam wasn't just a stepping stone to bigger and greater things for him. He didn't fight for the power a victory would give him - he did it to save the people of the Mojave and keep the Legion from threatening the NCR more than it already had. He was tired of House's approach of using the NCR as a buffer and offered to help them with the defense, but was refused. The NCR leadership refused the Courier's help during the preparation for the battle. If they had cared more about their soldiers than they did about their victory, more of those men and women would be returning home right now."
"Is there any evidence of the NCR's refusal to work with the Courier?"
"I'm sure somebody will dig it up, or someone within the NCR will have enough of the bureaucracy and leak it to the public. The people of the NCR deserve to know the truth; they deserve to know why their government sanctioned an attack on the man who risked his own life for the survival of their sons and daughters. Even after the NCR leadership refused to work with him, he continued to do his best to save as many of the people following them as he could, and he succeeded. He won, and the NCR shot him in the back for it."
"Some would argue that the attack was an act of war."
"Let's not kid ourselves - it was. The current NCR leadership wasted the lives of thousands of its people, then shot the man who saved thousands more, and even after all of that, the Courier refused to hit back. He had the power to lash out at the NCR and didn't, instead escorting their soldiers back to the NCR safely. Now that same government that attacked the Courier, that attacked my friend, uses my image - my sacrifice - as propaganda to discredit his choice and his victory? They're twisted, and the NCR people need to take their power back from those currently running their country into the ground."
"It sounds like you really believe in what the Courier is trying to do in the Mojave."
"I do."
"Strong words from a survivor of the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, and a believer in what the Courier stands for. A thought for my listeners before we move on with our regularly scheduled broadcast: do you fight for what you believe in? I know I do, and what I believe in... is you. Our next song is on the lighter side, but still shows that in the end, 'Something's Gotta Give."
Quiet music filled the recording studio and Veronica leaned back in her chair, exhaling quietly.
"That went well!" Yes Man said happily.
"You think so? Are you sure I wasn't too overbearing?"
"Not at all! You touched all the points we needed to and were very genuine."
"Are you really the best judge of that?"
"Arguably. Now, I think its best you get a move on."
"Why's that?"
The door to the studio thudded suddenly and Cass' muffled yell followed shortly after. "You little shit! You know I hate it when people call me Rose!"
"Is that the only way out of this place?" Veronica asked plaintively, gesturing to the doorway.
"I'm afraid so!"
"Damn... Should be worth it, though."
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9:43 p.m.
The Mojave
Movement. He was moving - slowly being drug across the earth by his feet. Sand and rocks dug into his back, and the dull agony kept him from focusing on the world beyond his body.
He was talking, he suddenly realized. Disconnected rage given voice.
"I'll kill him... I'll kill him. He'll pay for what he did."
A metallic voice responded, cold and emotionless.
"Survive Paladin, and I'll see you get your chance."
Then he was gone once more, yet the Securitron continued dragging him slowly across the wasteland.
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Last chapter was getting long, so I broke it up a bit. Thank you for reading.