October 26th, 2281, 1:21 a.m.
The Lucky 38

"Us walking around late at night seems to be a reoccurring thing... I don't know if this much exercise at this hour is healthy."

"Don't worry, this will probably be the last time. I've got someone I want you to meet."

"Sounds ominous! Is it another personality-matrix-friend?"

"Nope, just another character I met on my travels through the wasteland. You may actually remember him - the kid who lived at the 188 Trading Post underneath the bridge?"

"Oh yeah! The trader there... Samichele? Called him the Forecaster."

"An apt name... he's actually a psyker."

"Really? I knew that they've been well-documented from the interactions with the Master's Army back before the founding of the NCR, but I always thought they had all died out. Where did he come from?"

"He says he doesn't know, and asking him just makes him... unstable."

"Unstable?"

"He had a piece of equipment that kept his powers in check, but it was failing when I encountered him and he was slowly loosing control of his mind. I brought him here and am doing my best to keep him safe."

"Plus it's always nice to have somebody who can see the future."

"Not as nice as it may seem... It's right here."

Denn and Veronica turned through a doorway as it slid open before them, leading the two to a shorter hallway that lead to a large glass window. A spacious room was on the other side of the window, and as Veronica got closer, she began to make out the details of the area.

The walls were painted with an intricate mural - black paint against the sheer white wallpaper. A small figure stood on a stepladder and was reaching his arms up to add to the painting with slow, deliberate strokes. A desk with a computer set into was nearby, just as extensively decorated with the same black paint, and a quite melody drifted from its speakers.

Denn reached his hand out and keyed open an intercom at the side of the window. "James," he said quietly, "how are you doing today?"

"Mr. Courier!" the boy said happily, turning on the stepladder and waving at the window. He didn't look directly at Denn or Veronica, and the former Scribe realized the window was a one way mirror. "Yes Man told me you had won the battle, but it's still good to hear your voice."

"Likewise. It was a hard fight, but we came out on top."

"Yes Man said I'd have to ask you if he could tell me more about it. It'd be nice if I could work it into the painting."

"It's not too terribly exciting, but I'm sure he can pick out the best parts. I have a good friend with me. Would you like to meet her?"

The child's smile faltered for a moment, but he nodded. "I'd be happy to!"

"She's an amazing person, but you had better put on your medicine."

"Ok." The child moved to the wall and pressed a hand against it, causing a section to push back leading to another, smaller room. James disappeared for a moment, and when he returned he had a black band wrapped around his head.

"She'll be right in," Denn said, keying off the intercom and turning towards his companion. "There's something I need to show you, but first I need you to understand what the stakes of our gambit really are."

"What do you... you're going to have him read my future?" Veronica asked.

"Yes."

Veronica glanced into the room, suddenly extremely hesitant to enter it. "What if I don't want to have my future told?"

"You don't have to. It's not something I'm going to force on you, but it will help you understand my motives. Why I'm doing what I'm doing."

"Ok... Is it really that bad?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, I won't be able to come with you. He's... associated my appearance with what he experiences, and the sight of me sends him into a panic attack."

"Are you sure you want to put him through this?"

"No, but he knows what's going on and knows his gift can help people, as difficult as it may be for him. Each one of his episodes helps me get closer to figuring out what's really going on in the wasteland. He knows what's coming. Don't say anything when you go in, just let him lead."

"Ok..."

Denn made sure James was ready and pressed a button on the intercom, causing a section of the glass to open inward. Veronica entered the room and Denn keyed the entryway closed behind her.

"Hello," James said nervously, smiling at Veronica. The former Scribe smiled back, but remained silent and the small child nodded his thanks. Gritting his teeth and closing his eyes, Jame's breathing became deep and practiced, and after a few seconds, he removed the black headband. As he opened his eyes, they locked on Veronica and he began to speak.

"Lost. Always lost. Searching for a family, another family, another family. Almost broken after so many chances. So many risks. Your heart is leading you, guiding your choices. Still wearing the past robes - you don't stop loving. You love every family you've ever had, no matter what they do. You hope you've found a new one. You're doing everything to see them safe. Fighting for them, more than you'd ever fight for yourself. Keeping them with you. Seeing them with you. Fighting. Harder than you've ever fought before. You won't let them be taken from you, but they are. One after another they are taken from you. Ripped from your life as so many have been before. You lose them. They all die - claws reaping from the earth. Still you fight, trying to save new families, new love. Hunger insatiable, they don't stop, they take you, citadel of earth fire metal crown contain empty graves no one to bury one to mourn raging when they claim your wor-Shogg'fhalma tharanak n'gha ph'shugg. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Ug-Qualtoth R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Ug-Qualt-"

Over the course of the child's ranting, his eyes had rolled up into his head, and as his voice grew deeper - emerging from his throat as a guttural chant - he suddenly dropped, falling limply to the floor. Veronica tried to move forward, but the air seemed to be impossibly thick. As she reached out, the black mural on the wall shifted and writhed, its intricate pattern twisting across her mind's eye and enveloping her completely.

She was trapped, surrounded by earth. Its weight pressed against her chest, filled her mouth and nose - filled her eyes. She tried to scream, tried to free herself from the endless tomb, but could not. A low pulse burned through her ears, resonating within her chest as the weight began to-

A burst of electricity caused Veronica to yelp and dart up to a sitting position. The Courier was kneeling beside her, alarm and concern apparent in his face as he deactivated the stun-baton he had used to awaken her.

"What the fuck was that?!" the former Scribe asked, her voice ragged and hoarse. Veronica rubbed her hands roughly against her sides, confused at the phantom sensation pressing against her chest.

"I... I don't know," the Courier said quietly. "He's never chanted like that before and after he fell unconscious, you started repeating what he had been saying."

"I... I was... I remember being... I was... Why can't I remember? I was terrified. I couldn't move and-"

"It's ok. It's ok, you're safe now."

Veronica nodded and looked past him, the mural on the wall stationary. For now. "Get me the fuck out of here."

Without preamble, the Courier lifted her into the air and exited the room, not setting her down until they reached the outer hallway. "Stay right here. I'm going to go make sure James is okay."

"Don't leave me here," Veronica pleaded, the image of Denn blurring as she leaned her head back against the wall.

"I have to, Veronica," his voice said quietly, distantly.

"Don't worry, I'll stay with you," another voice said worriedly as a metal arm reached down and held her shoulder lightly. Veronica turned towards the voice and was greeted by a familiar smiling emoticon, but projected on the visor of a bipedal robot instead of the usual Securitron. The machine's body was made of a reflective material which caused the lights of the hallway to dance across it as it shifted down and took her hand into its own.

"Yes Man?"

"In the metal!"

"What are you doing with legs?"

"Just helping the Courier do some tests. This here is an Entrant platform! We're going to be using them as the caretakers of the Lucky 38 when it opens up!"

"Neat. What happened?"

"Just now? You had a bit of a tumble. Don't worry, the Courier will be right back."

"Where did he go?"

"Just in the other room. He won't be a minute. Hey, stay awake now."

"What?"

"Don't go to sleep. Veronica. Veronica! Veronic-"

.