Snowflake in the Sand

Chapter 20

Mr. House was impressed by the level of efficiency of his new hires, Courier Six had wiped out whatever schemes the Omertas where up to while Winter uncovered a fiasco concerning cannibalism on the White Glove society. Something that he had predicted sure, but the tribes on the strip felt indebted with both the particular wastelander and the girl from another world.

Soon it would seem that his plan could advance with a better matgin of success but there was just one tiny problem right now, they where ahead of scheduele and neither Ceaser nor the NCR felt the need to make the first move, either by fear or overconfidence.

The next step in his master plan was the eradication of the Brotherhood of steel, but that simply would have to wait for a moment, in his plan there really was no need for his ally to remain on the good side of the New California Republic. But with time to spare he could see the benefit of not making enemies with the largest civilized nation that would provide him with even more customers.

So he designed a small diversion for the two people in front of his projection "I see, then I must congratulate you on a job well done, the tribes of the Strip are now firmly under OUR control. The White Gloves with a debt they can never pay to Winter after all they need the meat and they are very lucky you managed to convince Mr. Gunderson to still provide them with it" House said as he saw Winter look out his window towards the lights of the prestigious hotel.

"As for the Omertas and the Chairmen, they seem to respect this famous Courier Six, for now that is more than enough" House said as a securitron handed each one of them a large bag of caps, Six grinned at the weight and gave a nod while Winter simply said a polite thank you.

House waited for a moment before he printed out a new set of orders "This next part of the plan requires careful political maneuvering; we need you to be in good graces with the NCR so I have printed some of the places you could offer aid for them. Try not to seem suspicious as of right now you are more or less free to do as you please, but remain vigilant of your PipBoy I am going to need you to take the hardest challenge after the region is stabilized"

House saw them both nod as Winter grabbed the paper and excused herself, but to his surprise Six remained. It seemed that there was something personal on his mind "I hired someone to work under me, can they stay in the Casino their work would be as an assistant of mine"

"Ah yes the stripper girl that you snuck in, sure she can stay and aid you in your… research" House said making Six laugh as he pointed at his screen "Believe I know it looks bad, but slavery seems to be quite popular this days, both the Legion and the Omertas where dealing on some shady shit"

House snorted "Their plot one to weaken Vegas no doubt, and this girl is not some simple whore I assume"

"She worked on scientific data aiding her… well to put it frankly awful parents, so I figured she needed a hand to get back on her feet and what better way to help us than scouring the available data to help Winter get back home"

House would have nodded if he could "Sure, but I already gave you the green light, what are you really after? What do you gain from this little conversation?"

Six paused for a moment before his stare turned colder "All right I will cut the crap, I don't get you. I really don't. You know that I have left quite an impression and maybe even some leadership on two of the casinos you oversee"

"Subordinates are quite a peculiar thing Courier, when they fear new management they usually report to a higher authority and that authority is me, I care little for you taking over both casinos ambition is a trait I find a good thing"

Six gaped like a fish for a few moments "What… but are you not afraid this would end up in another Benny situation" Six said as he pointed towards the tops, House stared at Six and realized something. Courier Six was willing to bear it all now, something had happened, he had found something and House was very courious.

"Benny was being prepared to replace me once the plan you are doing was completed, I did not anticipate for him to be so…"

"Stupid?"

"A word that would describe him, but I think what really did Benny in was his greed. His need to control made him into the man you killed, I hope you will not go down that path"

Six tilted his head in confusion "Replace you? Don't you want the strip to be the biggest city in the wasteland?" House made the securitrons open the windows more letting the moon shine brighter, now the Mojave wasteland was fully open for Courier Six to see.

"You see the little picture, I was once the man that created things people could only dream of. Robots that turned the tide of war, rubbed shoulders with the richest and yet nothing of that changed one thing. I have a vision, one that will revive humanity from its mistakes. I don't want a simple city I want to take humanity back to what it once was. Give fifty years and I will revive the industrial zone one hundred and we would have set sail for the stars… but that has changed. We have been bleased by the arrival of your friend, Winter's world is in need, monsters destroy the land it would seem and we need a better place for our people to live"

Six eyes widened as he turned to stare fully at Mr. House "Don't you see, humanity is not in need simply here. I care not for what people do, but I do care that there ARE people, that is why I do not believe in the NCR they are simply tracing the steps of the past and let's not get started on the Legion" House said, waiting for a witty retort or sarcasm being thrown his way. Instead, Six stood there, confused and tightening his fists "I… I think I get it, you know I think I realized something. In the back of my head, I didn't want you to take over Vegas. I think I was… wronged by authority in the past and… I wanted to take control. Benny reprogrammed a securitron. One that follows every command you give him and this machine says he can make it so that I rule over Vegas"

Six waited to be shredded to bit by the securitrons but the gun fire never came "And why did you not already"

"Because… I realized something latetly, it started when I saw this girl you know… this feeling of loss and… I still don't remember shit but I know that when I lead… I fuck up and I cannot help Winter. I really can't I danced with the idea, get geniuses to do it for me or maybe try to recreate the freak accident but I cant do that. Not with the Strip and the Mojave to take care of… and after hearing your vision I think I want that for humanity, help Winter's world and help ours. He have destroyed civilization what's a bunch of monsters to us?"

Mr. House remained quiet but deep down he was incredibly pleased, sure he had planned to betray him but he had stepped down and even if he where never to admit it felt nice to know that there was someone in this world that would share his vision.

And so boss and employee gained a quiet respect for one another and trust, Six turned to House "I have another request if you don't mind"-"Threading on thin ice Courier Six"

"Oh boy then you're not going to like this… I want to keep Yes man, I know that sounds bad but hear me out I think I have an idea for the future, think of it like an investment"

"I would suggest that you destroy as it threatens ME but if you manage to make it obey only you… I suppose I could see the benefit of a personalized AI for management"

Six grinned as he grabbed his caps and fake saluted towards House "You got it boss, when needed just message me on the PipBoy and I will get here as soon as I can"

Six said as he moved towards the elevator, House for his part uploaded new lines of code to the securitrons to shoot on sight if they spotted a rogue specimen of them but for now, there was a small weight lifted off his metaphorical shoulders. Courier Six got it, humanity must not only survive but it needed to thrive.

Winter rubbed her eyes as she prepared to call it a night, staying at the strip was both a blessing and a curse, there was no other bed like the one she had here out in the wasteland and Winter hated that she had grown accustomed to it.

Next time she slept on the cold hard ground her body would complain and there was little she could do about it other than thinking about it. But before she headed to her room she saw a figure she did not recognize in the sofa, blonde scrawny and dressed in a stripper outfit Winter had to blink twice to make sure she was not hallucinating.

"Ermm hello?"

The girl turned to stare at her and Winter felt her frown deepen, not at her but at the state she was in. her skin looked a sickly pale while her eyes where red, tear tracks ran down her cheeks and her makeup was a mess. No one got in or out the lucky thirty eight unless House or… or Six decided to.

Winter swallowed at the idea and waited for a response the girl for her part had quickly stood up and stammered a response "I… it is nice to ermm, meet you? You must be Winter, Six told me a lot about you"

If Winter was not so confused and pissed off she would have been flattered "Yes, that's me and you are?"

The girl flinched as she realized she had failed to introduce herself "Oh sorry, my name is Sarah. I worked at Gomorrah a couple of hours ago but" there was a quiet smile that made it's way into her lips "I was saved, your friend. He saved my life and I think a lot of the girls and boys that work there are grateful to him"

Winter almost slapped herself, she felt so silly. Of course Six did not kidnap a stripper, what was she thinking?

"He does that, he is a nice man. He told you to wait for him here?" Winter said as she moved towards the fridge and pulled out two bottles of Nuka Cola handing one to the girl and another for herself. Winter smiled as the taste hit her tongue and satisfied sigh escaped her lips. Sarah timidly sipped her drink as she stared at the more mature woman and she could not help but compare the elegant and… white for the lack of a better word to describe Winter (the irony of the name was not lost on Sarah) with the green and browns that Courier Six whore coupled with his laid back but brutal personality.

"Something on my face?" Winter questioned, a small part of her enjoying the way the girl blushed and stammered an apology out. Sarah was cute as button Winter thought to herself, the girl never got to explain herself as the elevator opened and Courier Six appeared with a large smile on his lips as if content with something that had happened.

"Guess who got a promotion!" Six said as he smiled at Winter, then he turned to Sarah who gave him a small wave "Oh good, you two met already. Did you move at all since I left?"

Sarah shook her head.

"… right, so you don't need to do that. This is your new home, your workplace and you don't need my permission for everything so relax Sarah" Six said as he placed a hand on her shoulder making the girl relax and smile. Winter watched the exchange and a small sense of longing, if one where to see the two from afar they could pass form family. But there was something that would always feel off, Six was tanned from his time under the merciless Mojave sun, his dark hair contrasted with Sarah's blonde.

As Six explained the work he wanted his new secretary to do, Winter finally had the time to think about the conversation she had with the peculiar girl she met at the Ultra Lux. There was a possibility that Six was the man that had supposedly died, everything lined up but there was a giant hole in her theory and that was the gian hole on earth called the Divide.

There was no way Six could have survived the explosion, she didn't care how invisible he seemed to be or how much Stimpaks he was carrying there was no cure for a blast that sunk cities. But there was also the possibility of him not being there when the explosion happened, as she recalled more and more of her conversation with the stranger some things seemed to click. If they grew up together in a vault it would explain Six's bizarre fascination with the awful things.

But other didn't, Six disliked the NCR there was no way he would have sided with them in a war, or at least not the one she knew. But there was always a chance, so Winter cleared he throat making Six get the message "Well that is all for now Mandy, I have to talk some things with Winter over there if you don't mind. I'm sure your tired with everything that happened today your room has some clothes and a shower, see you tomorrow" Six said making Sarah give an exited nod at the idea of a shower not bothering to correct the fact that he had gotten her name wrong.

As soon as the door closed Six sat next to Winter and grinned "Look at us, saving the strip from cannibals and gangsters, if you drank I would invite you to a drink" Winter returned the smile and pointed at the fridge "I saw some wine, I can handle a small cup just for today, who knows when we will get the luxury"

"One small drink coming right up" Six said as he moved towards the fridge and raided it for the liquor, Winter noticing how he did not even bother to grab a cup for himself. "Six… I met someone peculiar today"

"Really? More interesting than the cannibals?"

Winter made a face "Peculiar for normal people, God I cannot believe the cannibals that we found where inside the strip I was prepared to face a tribe but…" Six returned and handed her the small cup of red wine she requested, it smelled absolutely divine. Six snorted as Winter delicately sipped, savoring her drink. For his part he downed half of the bottle in one gulp and let out a satisfied sigh as he felt the taste and burning sensation "Good stuff"

"Lear no savor it Six, small sips and let it rest in your tongue for a couple seconds" Winter commented making Six try the wine the way she was doing it.

"Huh, yup I can definitely taste more of it, but back on track this peculiar person?"

"Oh yes, so it was this woman who had this peculiar story. She said she participated in a war siding with the NCR against and army of raiders and super mutants if I am not mistaken" Winter played it cool hoping the alcohol would make Six remember but all she got was a curious look "NCR fighting super mutants? Sounds made up, super mutants keep mostly to themselves and if they really had gone to war, I doubt the NCR would exist. They can crush skulls with one hand and they love their mini guns… maybe it was more like a conflict some secret agent shit… yeah like an infiltration mission on a secret base"

Six gulped down the rest of his drink and then let out a soft laugh "But those things only happen on those books you find lying around in old world libraries, I think she was just trying to impress you"

Winter let out a disappointed sigh, seems like super mutants and war didn't seem to do the trick "Maybe, she mentioned she came from New California regions, but trying to impress me is silly she could not have know I was important in the strip"

"Oh people have ears and eyes everywhere, trust me that belief just got reassured like a couple of minutes ago. And besides who wouldn't want to be on the good side of someone as beautiful as you" Six said as he disappeared into his room, leaving a red cheeked Winter to gape at his door.

"He… is getting boulder, I don't know what to make of that. I bet Weiss does not have to deal with this…. Feeling nonsense" Winter said as she finished her drink and moved towards her room.

Winter nodded in approval as Sarah finished reviewing the first stack of papers "Good, seems like you are used to this type of things. Teleportation might be our main focus but the retrival of vital technology is also important, so everything that looks like it could be used for harm or good you put it aside"

Sarah gave a nod "Ok, so we operate like we are Brotherhood of steel then, my... parents used to work with one of them from time to time"

Winter shrugged her shoulder "I quite frankly don't know much of this brotherhood, but if they catalogue old technology then I guess in a sense we are similar" Sarah gave her thumbs up as Six exited his room armed to the teeth and his dessert ranger armor repaired "Looks like we are all set to go, Sarah remember if someone looks for me tell them that you're in charge while I am away, the securitrons will take care of you so feel free to walk around the strip and for your first mission please deliver this letter to Swank" Six said as he handed her a sealed letter.

Sarah nodded quickly and smiled at him "Sure, please come back in one piece"

Six laughed and ruffled the hair of the young woman that was in his employment now "We will try kid, see you around" Winter simply waved as they left a little relieved that she had some help with that stack of documents. The reports on the so called Sierra Madre made little to no sense, but they all pointed there. Six for his part was planning a route of action "So here is what I am thinking right, we go to McCarran and ask for work INSIDE the building this time, I am not in the mood to play assassin today. Then I guess we just walk in our surrounding area maybe head all the way back to Primm and check this cry for help I heard on the radio" The courier commented as Winter gave a nod.

"While we are considered allies by this point I don't think it would make us look any good if we walk to the more… well let's just say strategically vulnerable places, if we are lucky we will only leave places like that with a warning shot" Winter told the Courier as she motioned him to let her see his PipBoy.

"There was a resort that House owned, I overheard some soldiers talking about it, seems like the NCR have made a camp there is worth looking into" the specialist commented as the gates towards Freeside opened and there was this small sense of adventure creeping on both as they left New Vegas.

A/N: Small filler chapter to lay out some of the things to come, with everything wrapped up in Vegas there is not much to do inside the city preserved in time. Sarah becomes the eyes and ears of Courier Six on the strip and the mailman let's go of a dream.

Also, I just wanted to thank you for reading for twenty chapters of this story of mine it makes me really happy that you guys are enjoying it. See you around!