Snowflake in the Sand
Chapter 33
In the shadow of the valley part 3
"This is not normal procedure Veronica and you know it" hushed whispers reached Six's ears from his kneeling position, a laser riffle to the back of his head. The cold sand gently passed through his fingers as he listened to the conversation. Six was not all that worried about himself.
He was fairly certain he could avoid the shot from the laser riffle if he used Jet.
But Veronica was another story, the very first impression he got from her family was that they did not like her all that much but put up with her because she was brotherhood. Six lifted his gaze a bit as he watched another one of the knights pass him the power armor making him look like2 a golem of steel instead of a human. Six could only wonder how terribly scary it must have been to see thousands of them march towards you back in the last days of the Great War.
The knight barely paid mind to him instead. His attention was on Veronica "You have your mission Veronica, supplies and scouting. Deviating against it goes against our principals, AGAINST everything that has been imparted to you since birth… are you trying to walk the path that Elijah did before you?" he accused the grip on the giant Super Sledge he held tightening as he mentioned the elder.
Veronica glared "I have never stopped working for the betterment of the Brotherhood. Everything I do is for you guys, I bring not only information but someone who is actually willing to help us! And this is how you treat him?! Please, you've know me for your entire lives! I would never do something to hurt our chapter"
The knight let out a sad sigh and motioned everyone to lower their weapons "We know that Veronica, but not all good intentions help. The Elder would want to see you and your… friend" the pressure on the back off his head was lifted as Veronica helped him up. She looked at him apologetically making Six grin at her "Did not know my reputation was that bad"
Veronica gave him a snort as a response "It isn't. They do not know who you are nor do they care. But you look odd enough to make them worry, so for now follow me and don't do anything stupid" Six gave a short nod as he looked around and noticed how the lights on the power armor stared at them from afar as they continued towards the Brotherhood base. Six raised an eyebrow as they reached what looked like a rundown bunker.
Graffiti littered the outside and the dead barkscorpions made it look even more rundown than it already was. The metal door opened with a loud groan as rust fell to the ground and the darkness inside seemed to swallow the light from the outside, Six followed Veronica closely as the stairs groaned under their weight.
"Mind your step on this stair, it's a trap" Veronica commented as Six almost jumped in the air to avoid it, the girl waited for a couple of seconds before letting out a short laugh. "I was joking, that one is just falling apart. But I like to think of it as if it was a sort of trap you know! Makes life more exciting and or current state less depressing"
Six made something akin to a grumble as they continued to walk, his eye adjusted quickly to the darkness and the scattered boxes around the large room made him realize that the bunker had been abandoned long before the Great War started. Veronica looked at him concerned.
"You're too quiet for my liking Six, you okay?"
Six simply gave a nod "I will be, just…" he looked at her and guilt began to eat at him again, but like always he pushed it to the back of his head. It was only a possibility not something inevitable.
"… just nervous, I never met the family of a girl before" he pushed the joke out, to distract himself and her. Veronica simply snorted and gave him a look.
"I me the parents of a girl before, they really didn't like me but didn't hate me so I think I will have some tips for you" they arrived at the end of the large corridor, a metal door with a speaker next to it the only things visible in the room. Veronica grinned and tapped on it twice.
Static could be heard in the air as the short girl leaned over and yelled at the speaker "I would like a milkshake and a double Brahmin burguer. Oh and go easy on the agave sauce this time!" At first nothing happened but a sigh could be heard as some lights came to life "We gave you a password Veronica, is for your safety"
"I know where you live Ramos! Open up" Veronica replied as the doors opened, there was another sigh from the man she had named Ramos but he did not seem all that mad "Fine, welcome back Veronica" the girl turned to Six who gave her a small smile. The courier motioned for her to lead as they entered a more well kept part of the complex.
Veronica placed her hand on a door as it opened to her touch. Six frowned as memories from his past came back "Military doors huh?" he muttered loud enough for Veronica to hear. Veronica nodded as the began to descend on the bunker the artificial lights helping on their descent.
"Yup, they last for a long time and are easier to maintain than vault doors. Thanks again for doing this, I know I sound like a broken record. I will make sure that the people I know name their non-ugly children after you"
Six laughed at that as they reached the bottom of the stairs "Poor suckers, named after a number"
The walk was stopped as a tall Brotherhood of Steel member met them at the end of the corridor and gave Six a small glare "Normally we don't even let outsiders get pass the first door, but because Veronica has boutched for you I will let it slide. My name is Ramos, I am head of security around here so if you do anything remotely suspicious you're going to have to deal with me"
Six gave him a thumbs up "I will be in my best behavior then" this made the paladin nod as he moved back to his office. He smiled at Veronica who gave him a happy smile "looking sharp Ramos"
"Hey yourself kiddo"
Veronica was not a kid, that was obvious to Six but to Ramos she was still the same kid he had seen her run around the base. It was her entire life, mental notes where made about this topics and also about the interior of the structure. Where could he hide better, what places would give the upper edge.
They arrived to the main base proper as Veronica gestured towards the corridors that resembled more a labirint than anything else "This it, the Brotherhood of Steel try to not pass out from all the glory"
It was said as a joke, but a part of Six was surprised that this was the mighty and feared Brotherhood of Steel base. From what he had read in the vault back in California the brotherhood had been the most powerful foes that the NCR ever faced, only besting them in the battles that raged on across the wasteland because of numbers. Ironic now that the NCR was facing the end of that sword in the form of the Legion.
"Come on, you're making me self-conscious here. Say something" Veronica edged him on as she looked at him expectantly. There was much he wanted to say, from how the lights made him feel like he was trapped in a cage to how the corridors where a bit too small for people that moved around in Power Armor but when Six looked at the eyes of someone who admired him and trusted him.
He could not voice what he felt.
So instead he swallowed his words and pointed at the thick walls "Bet you never had to worry about raider attacks huh? This place is an impenetrable fortress" Veronica shrugged "The raiders where the least of our worries, when father Elijah as around the bunker was almost always empty. All hands available where out on the sand searching for artifacts but after Helios… well you know how it went"
The NCR would not let anyone forget about what had happened at Helios One and neither could Elijah, the mad ramblings of the man resonating on the back of the courier's head. The tour proper started as Veronica walked him from room to room, introducing him to the various members of the brotherhood. Some used Power Armor to tower over him, while others (the scribes as Veronica had called them) used robes like the one Elijah had worn. The recon team had a set of peculiar armor but they all had one thing in common, they were weary of him and some had said as much.
"Outsider, makes feel like I am back with the Boomers" Six thought to himself as Veronica pulled him to the elevator to the lower part of the bunker. She was tense, her eyes closed as she tried to steady her breathing "The elder and the other important people are here. I… oh man I don't know if I have what it takes to say it and in front of his own guard no less"
Six frowned as he placed a hand on her shoulder "It's ok if you want to turn back Veronica, but if you don't do it now you might never have the chance. The war is about to come to its end for better or for worse so… just pull the trigger I guess"
Veronica nodded "You're right, thank you for standing by my side on this. Youre like the big brother I never got" a knife was sunk deep into Six's heart as the doors opened and they walked towards the elder's command room. The elite guard looked down at him and Veronica as they entered the largest room he had seen yet, the head scribe looked at him with can only be described as barely covered disgust.
"Veronica?! What is the meaning of this?"
"I need to speak to the elder" Veronica stood her ground as she looked at the elder with pleading eyes, to the left of the elder the tallest paladin he ahd seen merely grunted as he began to walk out of the room "Than we will leave our conversation for later, but keep in mind what I said… elder"
Veronica gave a stiif nod towards the paladin "Hardin"
The paladin did not turn his neck to look at her "Veronica" the head scribe merely let out sigh as he grabbed his documents and moved towards the exit. He did not spare one look or word towards them. He did not need words to express how he felt about the whole ordeal.
"Ah Veronica… thank you for saving me" the elder said with a chuckle, Six studied the man for a bit. Gray short hair, sunken and tired eyes. The elder was having a rough time with the current situation of the Brotherhood it seemed. Veronica gave him a small smile as she approached him.
She paused at the middle of the steps, not wanting to stand so close to him "Hello elder McNamara… how you doin?"
The elder raised an eyebrow but shrugged "Personally just fine thank you for asking, but the brotherhood is in dire need of help so I am hoping that you bring good news. Wich brings me to my first question to you: how goes you mission?"
"We'll know in a second" Veronica commented as the guards seemed to glare at her back. The elder looked with a disappointed expression "Veronica please tell me this is not about…"-"YES IT IS goddammit and you're going to listen this time. The thigs I have seen, the people that have succeeded where we failed. Please just listen to me, we have to change"
The elder shook his head, Six felt disappointed in him at how easily the words of Veronica where brushed off.
"We outlasted the end of the world, we will also outlast this upstarts" the elder said, full confidance on what he said. Veronica looked at him confused "Even if it means that we have to hide in holes like this forever?"
"Veronica, what does the codex say?" the words made Veronica tighten her power fist so much that sparks fell to the ground. She looked at the elder dead in the eye as she moved one step closer to him "A bnch of close minded bullshit"
That made some of the guards react, some where visibly shaking in anger why others simply muttered angrily at her. The elder on the other hand took it in stride and continued his lecture "Veronica we are the holders of inmense power, of things that the rest of the world must never get their hands on. Technology destroyed the world and is our duty to keep them under our watchful eyes, no matter what we must adhire to those principals"
Veronica looked at him in desperation "Even if it means that our numbers go down day by day?"
"Yes"
"We'll die out"
"I know"
Six felt pity, not just for Veronica. The Brotherhood of steel had been striped before him and he did not know how to feel. Their goal was a noble one but as humanity moved past the war, where they still needed? He had crafted scenarios in his head where did NOT follow House's orders and he used Yes Man to take full control of the Strip and the securitrons beyond. But even if the brotherhood liked him things where beginning to clear for him but he could not yet pass judgment, for Veronicas sake he would try to see just how far he could try to bend the rules. He would believe in Lady Luck one more time.
"Come on, we're wasting our time here" Veronica said as she walked back next to him trying to hold the tears in her eyes. Six placed a hand on her shoulder but he did not move towards the exit instead he walked towards the elder, he heard the laser riffles and the plasma caster all point at him but he did not care.
After all he had been called here "A good, you're the outsider. And while it is not normally something the brotherhood would offer I am lead to believe that you're a good man. I highly doubt that Veronica would work with someone who wasn't"
Six chuckled and extended his hands towards the elder "I try to, Courier Six pleased to meet you" The elder shook his hand as he studied him for a bit, his eye was the main focus of the elder.
"What a peculiar eye, radiation mutation?"
Six shrugged "Not sure actually, I got recently. The Sierra Madre can change you" the name did not get the reaction he expected but there was recognition in the eyes of the elder. At least they knew of the place he mused.
The elder pointed at the map of the region "Now, I have some things I am in desperate need of help. But if you don't want to work for us we completely understand"
"Sure, just let me know what you need. I came here to help actually" Six replied making the elder nod as he pushed differet buttons on the console as marks appeared all over the map "Good, then I need you to go to this locatios. This are the last know coordinates of different patrol teams we have sent across the Mojave wasteland. If they are alive, assist them and if they are not recover their holotapes. They have critical information that must not fall into the hand of outsiders"
"Sure, you got it. Just one thing I work very closely with someone if needed can she be the one to drop the things off?" the elder looked at him for a moment as Six's comment reeked of betrayal.
His next words where calculated "It depends, who might this person be and if Veronica approves of her?" Six activated his PipBoy as he showed him a picture of Winter he had managed to save in his wrist device "Winter Schnee, quite the cutie eh?"
The elder's eyes widened for a bit "We know of her, yes. She is being hailed as hero by the NCR and… that would make you the shadow of Vegas. How interesting, Veronica has made very powerful friends it seems" the elder tried to look at Veronica but she was avoiding eye contact as much as she could.
"Six's girlfriend is fine. She is nice or whatever you need me to say to let her in" the comment made the elder nod as Six walked towards the exit "Consider it done elder, by my hand or hers. What you need will come back" the doors closed behind him with a loud thud as he nodded at himself in approval of his dramatic exit.
Veronica punched the wall as she shook her head "I would slap him around if I could, but he stood next to my father at my parents wedding… he means well" Six leaned against the wall as he waited for Veronica to call down.
"Meaning well means nothing when change is needed. Maybe we can do something to change his mind?"
Veronica rolled his eyes "Nothing would change their mind, they really REALLY believe in the codex and what it has to say about life, only some major technological discovery would change their minds… maybe Elijah was really onto something" Six winced a bit at that comment, but Veronica snapped her fingers as an idea came to mind.
"Hold on cyclops I just remembered something! He had a safehouse, Elijah I mean where he would leave instructions for me and store information. Maybe he has something there than can help me change their mind. Six pondered at the idea but it was their only option if he was honest, the brotherhood needed to change a bit in order for their survival. The sword of fate was hanging above the brotherhood in more ways than one. "Sure, let's go then"
Six began to walk only to be pushed back by a mob of angry looking knights. Their well-polished armor reflecting the lights of the bunker "What is this? Veronica not only brings an outsider to our home, but she also allows him to have a private audience with the elder. WE will not stand for this, Veronica has always twisted the words of the founder to fulfil her need but no more" the leader of the knights said as he stormed off to one of the many rooms the building had. Six hummed as he took his hand off the proton axe he had underneath his coat, Veronica simply blushed from embarrassment "Sorry, just because I love my family doesn't mean that I cant admit that some of them are assholes"
Six gave her a thumbs up "Don't worry, for now let's just go I think we are close enough to where one of the holotapes are" Veronica nodded as they began to walk, Six looked down at his PipBoy as he re-read the message that Winter sent via their private channel.
"Remnants all on our side, requesting meeting ASAP"
Six was quick to reply, his finger moving turning the dials with a practice he did not know he had in him.
"Copy that, Tin Can problem. 188 see you there"
Winter let out a satisfied sigh as she finished drinking the cold Nuka Cola that she had ordered along with her Gecko burger. It was funny how hunger and need had changed appetite, but she was grateful that it had changed. Brother's know that her father could not do it, but then again her father did not go to Atlas Academy, that changed anyone.
"Mam, sorry to disturb you but some of the troopers are wondering if you need any help. We can aid you while we are stationed"
"No need to salute soldier, I am off duty right now" Winter grinned at the NCR soldier as the leader of the small platoon nodded, she motioned the young man to sit on the empty chair "You okay? You look nervous, first time leading?"
That made the man's wyes widen in chock, but he eventually nodded "Yeah, I just got the news actually. We lost some men in the new Legion attack and well… I was the only one that fit the bill to replace our former CO"
Winter hummed as she closed her eyes "I remember the first time I lead an operation, I cannot say it was a fun time but there was something I learned that I think can help you" she looked at him in the eyes. "Pay attention to every last detail, sometimes a watchful eye is better than a well laid plan"
The newly appointed CO nodded as he stood up "Thank you mam, I wont forget it" Winter watched him leave as she wondered how old he was. Twenty-one? Maybe a couple of years more? The NCR needed to train their soldiers better when it came to filling in positions.
Another thing to add to the long list of things that she needed to do later, as darkness descended on the trading post Winter spotted a lone figure coming from the depths of the dessert a calm smile made its way onto her lips. She walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him a soft kiss was placed on her lips as she enjoyed the familiar smell "You took longer than expected Six"
"I had to make some stops, sorry about that. But that's a story for another time, we have a lot to talk about" Six commented. Winter looked to the side and then back to him "Where's Veronica? I thought she was with you?"
They walked back to the trading post as Six spoke about what had transpired in the last couple of days "… so after we got the first holotape, we went to Elijah's place and wouldn't you know it there it was a list of all the things the bastard had wanted to research but never got the time for. Helios had the super weapon, there is a gun that disables power armor somewhere near Vegas. But the most interesting one to me, and the one that can change the tune of the elder; is the one in Vault 22. Doctor Hildern said something about it but now I think it is inevitable that I go there… but the Brother hood needs the tapes and a lot of help in other things. And I mean A LOT so here's what I had planned, feel free to add to it. We split in groups, Veronica and I get the information from Vault 22 and you help the brotherhood with their little fetch quests"
Winter closed her eyes as she analized the information "And why me? No saying I won't do it Six but I am sure that Sarah is better suited for this sort of thing" the specialist commented, before Six could respond ED-E returned. he made a beeping sound making Winter smile.
"Aww he already found the scrap metal I asked him for, isn't he the best" Winter commented as she gave the machine some scratches on its hull. If ED-E could feel them it did not make any noise to indicate it.
Six merely frowned at ED-E "Yeah yeah, I guess so"
"Don't be jealous of machine, Arcade also hates ED-E something I should know?" Winter commented with her eyes narrowed at Six, the courier looked at the machine and let out a sigh "Enclave really like them, they deploy them for propaganda and intel gathering. When the Enclave resurfaced in California after they destroyed my vault, they deployed hundreds of the little fuckers constantly tipping the enclave of my location. but that's in the past now the future, ironically, lies in the brotherhood. Sarah cant do it, because they don't fear her"
Winter stopped playing around with ED-E and turned to give Six her full attention "The Brotherhood fears me?" the specialist asked.
"Not fear you, but your reputation. The NCR has quite a lot of holes in its intel department, but the point is that they think highly of you. Helping them out has left an impact and they have said so over radio, enough so that their enemies have heard it. Guess the Brotherhood is curious if you measure up to the reports" Six commented, Winter hummed as she made a mental note to check on information leak.
but something else made its way into her mind "And what stops them from shooting me the moment I set foot on their base? If the NCR consider me of value, why would their enemies miss on the chance of simply killing an asset"
"Desperation, they have no one to turn to but us. Right now the fate of the Brotherhood of Steel is in our hands. One call to the NCR is all it would take for the entire army to wipe Hidden Valley from the face of the earth and the Brotherhood of Steel in Nevada would be no more"
This comment by Six made Winter frown "It's that bad huh? Sure I will make contact with the Brotherhood once I have acquired all of the holotapes"
Six smiled "Thank you, I mean it. Then allow me to get you started, here's the first holotape don't ask about the slime I had to take it from a disgustingly large centaur, I named him Moe. Moe is dead" the white glove stained green as Winter looked at the holotape.
"Moe aside from dead is missing some bone, see that? I think its part of the skull, I hope the brotherhood is able to read this" Winter said as she placed the holotape in one of her many pockets. Six stood up and looked at the horizon "It's almost funny in a way, just some months ago we walked through here with Vegas lights as our guide"
Winter joined him as they looked towards the city of lights, there was something in the air that made her sad. "Something is going to happen, I can feel it" Six muttered as night fell over New Vegas.
A/N: I was going to release one big chapter but I decided it was best if I split in two. I want to thank everyone because we are almost at the end and I wanted to let you know what it is that I am working on.
-The fate of the brotherhood(next chapter)
-Winter and the president(one chapter hopefully)
-The Divide
-The Battle of Hoover dam
And that's it, I do want to add some bonus chapters at the end so if I miss your favorite quest just let me know so they can be added at a later date. But other than the list Snowflake in the sand is almost at an end.
Thank you again, words cannot express how much I appreciate the support. See you soon!