Snowflake on the Sand
Chapter 34
Ad Victoriam
Winter smiled as she retrieved the last holotape from the mangled corpse of the poor knight, there was little left of his torso as metal had melted inside his body combining the body into an amalgamation of bone and metal, lasers had done him in. The heat might have cooked him alive before Winter wondered maybe if she where to give an autopsy she would find more but now was not the time. She shuddered as she imagined what could have happened to her if she did not reprogram the robots to accept them.
"Let's not linger here, the robots might turn on us at any moment" Boone commented as he eyed the machines with suspicion, the barely lit halls only illuminated by the Mr. Handy units as they roamed the dead halls. Winter nodded as she turned to her other companion.
Cass was staring at the long dead bodies of the ones that used to work here "Man can you imagine, just one day you're yelling at your boss because he's such a shithead and the next thing you know the mother of all wars ends in one fucked up second. Hard to imagine if you ask me, hope it doesn't happen again" the redhead said as Winter simple nodded sadly.
Boone did not seem to mind so much "If they had not died, we would not be here today. Besides the NCR makes sure that everything nuclear is safely stored, no one in the army is issued a FatMan for a reason"
This made Cass roll her eyes "Sure, that's what the brass says but I bet you my jacket and boots that the moment Legion shows their sorry hide near the capital the NCR are going to pull out ALL the tricks they have stored away to stop them"
Boone frowned but said nothing.
Winter for her part bit her lip on commenting on that one, both of these people where citizens of the nation's one had served and the other had worked under them, her commentary would add nothing. So she decided to walk towards the exit as the tension in the air dissipated as the doors opened and they where waved goodbye by the tour guide.
"See you next time Rocketeers!" the unit said as the doors slammed behind them, Cass snorted "I'm fine never having to listen to a robot speak of space travel sci-fi fucking nonse again thank you very much, how about you grumpy?"
Boone gave a short nod "Second that, it's hard enough to believe what Six says happened in Novac"
That made Winter break her silence "Thad actually happened, we really launched those ghouls into orbit. Six probably said with more… colorful words, but it really happened" Cass snorted as Boone raised an eyebrow.
"Less tense now that we're out of the building ay Frosty?" Cass commented as her employer merely gave her a sideways glare. Boone reached for his sniper as he surveyed the area letting the two women get into their small staring contest. Boone had been asked by Six to help on this important mission. He and the courier had become close to his surprise, he did not ask much only when he felt he needed to and the man had some balls to fight the legion repeatedly, something Boone liked in any breathing person.
Cass on the other hand had decided to tag along, the inside of the Lucky 38 driving her nuts as she told anyone who even looked at her inside the luxurious space. So Winter had nodded her head and the group set out to gather every single Holotape. As they began their walk towards Hidden Valley silence took over the group, neither Winter or Boone the talkative type but Cass did not seem to mind. She entertained herself by taking in the sights.
"This is what I am talking about, I dunno what Six and you see in that building but I prefer to walk here. The old man smell was killing me" Cass commented, Boone from the corner of his eye saw a small smile that was quickly suppressed by Winter who simply shrugged "It's nice from time to time to simply sleep without the fear of a Radscorpion biting you while you sleep"
Cass snorted "Radscorpion? Try Deathclaws back when I still had the caravan I made a small trip near Vegas I don't remember where exactly but what I do know is that we tried to take a shortcut to get back to California faster. It didn't end well to say the least, one moment I was having the best dream of my life and the next I was running for my life in only my underwear. Deathclaws will humble you real fast I tell ya"
Winter rubbed the back of her head "Can't say I ever had the pleasure of meeting the famous beast, Cazadores I have seen in the distance even fought a small one but I wouldn't mind not encountering one"
Boone shuddered as eh remembered an encounter the army had with one of the killing machines, if not for first recon he was sure that the beast would have eaten everyone in camp and the NCR would have taken another big loss. As they continued their walk Hidden Valley was fast approaching so Winter stopped walking and looked at the team.
The specialist reached into her pockets and pulled out ammo "Hellfire rounds, a special gift just in case. If the Brotherhood start getting a little bit too suspicious aim for the part where the power armor connects, don't aim for the eyes" Boone studied the ammo and frowned.
"Packs a hell of a punch, doubt it would do us much good. hey wont stay still for long enough to get a clear shot" the sniper commented, but Winter gave a small smile. One born off confidence and pride.
"Don't worry, they wont be able to" a small amount of frost was formed on her hand as she closed her fist and let out a sigh to steady her nerves. Cass downed a bottle of whiskey while Boone merely waited; death was coming to him, he knew that so he was not all that afraid right now. One their little ritual was over they walked towards the place that Six had marked on her map, the door to the bunker opened with no resistance the darkness inside being easily lit by the PipBoy on the specialist wrist.
Boone frowned "Dark in here, I can use a scope if you want might help a bit" Winter shook her head and motioned to the side "For now let's not do draw a weapon, might make them nervous" she said in hashed tone. As they arrived to the door of the bunker, it opened to reveal a fully armored set of knights and paladins their Gauss Rifles aimed at their head and the plasma casters ready to melt what remained. One of the taller ones glared at them as he took off his helmet, Winter simply nodded at him, feigning a confidence she did not really have.
"Paladin Ramos, right?" she said as the paladin simply let out a sigh and lowered the closes Gauss rifle with his hand "At ease everyone, so it really is you. From the way the NCR described you I was expecting you to be older and taller"
Winter simply gave a small shrug "I quite frankly don't know what the NCR says about me, but what they think doesn't matter. I'm here to help you, Six told me of the situation" the paladin looked at her as he lowered his guard a bit. The Brotherhood needed help and they both knew that so the paladin stopped pretending.
"So you gathered what the Elder asked of the wastelander then, then I will not keep you. Just remember the same warning that we gave to your friend applies to you, if we see anything that we don't like we are taking the shot. Shows over people back to your posts" some members glared at them some even refused to lower their weapons, their glowing sights trained on Boones head. Their loss at Helios One still fresh in their mind and Boone was the embodiment of everything that they hated.
Winter took everything in stride and walked deeper into the bunker, Cass walked next to her as Boone stayed some steps behind "Sheesh, I will save what I want to say for later"
"Same, but for now let's just deliver what the elder wants so we can quickly get out of here" Winter said as some knights eyed them as they patrolled the bunker. A scribe past them by as he stopped to look at Winter "Ex-excuse me" he said making them stop. Winter gave him a small wave "Something I can help you with"
The scribe nodded as he adjusted his glasses and his attention shifted towards her wrist "Nothing special, I just can help but notice that your PipBoy is not standard issue. Where did you get it?"
Winter wondered if saying that she modified it herself was a bad idea, but a knight saved her from answering the question "The Elder sent me to get you, he was worried that you would be lost. If you want you can follow me"
"Thank you, I will have to answer your question some other time. But I just happened to find it" she replied to the scribe as he nodded "Sure, no worries. Bt if you remember who modified it or remember the place please let me know, we have to acquire that knowledge"
The last word stayed with her as they desncended further into the bunker and into the Elder's office. the large room a distant echo of the one General Ironwood had, the elder unlike the general was not an imposing figure.
He barely lifted his eyes from the myriad of papers that he was reading, Winter walked up to him and placed the holotapes on his table "Hello elder"
This made the man finally sett the papers down and offer her a small smile "Hello to you Miss Schnee, I have heard a lot from you from our scouts. Seems like you have become quite the celebrity among some circles"
"That's news to me, I simply help out here and there. For the good of everyone I like to think" Winter said making the elder give her a look, but didn't comment on it as eh reached for the holotapes and frowned the knights assigned to protect him lowering their weapons for a bit as reality sank in "I take it my man where all dead then?"
A short nod was his answer, the elder looked at the holotapes again and placed them next to the myriad of things he had to get through. "It saddens me but it does not surprise me, we have almost no friends outside the situation has become dire but that does not matter now. Thank you for giving us valuable information and giving some closure to the fallen"
"No need to thank me, I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sure they where good soldiers" Winter commented as the elder met her gaze "You're an odd one Miss. Schnee, from my understanding you work for the NCR no?"
Winter shook her head "Not really, I am just a civilian that helps them because I feel like is the… best course of action to take in this war"
"You speak like a soldier" the elder commented as Winter simply nodded "I am one, from a land very far away from here. Six is helping me get there, but I cannot cross my arms while the world around me falls to chaos"
The elder hummed "In that we can agree, the brotherhood of steel was also founded on ideals similar to those" he said as Winter felt a small conection begin to form with the armored knights. "If you do not mind, can you tell me a bit about the brotherhood of steel then?"
This made the elder nod "Of course, I'm afraid I can only give yo a brief history lesson as I have things to do but here's the short version. When the greed of man reached its peak and their ethics left along with their limits, the world was engulfed in a fire that sent us to near extinction. Our founder saw the error of man and knew that technology like that should never be left again in the hands of the common folk so he founded the Brotherhood of Steel to safeguard humanity from its own evil, everything that lead the world destruction is left in OUR care because only we know how to handle the technology. We don't do it out of greed, we don't do it to conquer; we do it because if left unchecked humanity would do the same thing again and again. Look around you, if the NCR could would they not bomb Caesar?" the elder reclined a bit on his seat, he looked as if the question was burning him, because he had no way to stop them if they decided that.
Winter blinked in surprise, it sounded like a noble goal. The horrors created before the war needed to be kept in check, she agreed with that "I see, thank you elder. you have opened my eyes to something"
McNamara smiled at her "Oh and what do you see now?"
"That I want to keep helping you, is there anything else that you need aid with" this eased all the tension in the room as the knights slowly lowered their weapons and kept them at their side. They knew she got what the elder had said, they felt pride as the codex words reached even those in Vegas, it made their conviction stronger. The elder's smile grew wider as he asked for her PipBoy "Thank you, I mean it. I have sent scouts across the Mojave wasteland, They are our eyes and ears, but we cannot sent anyone to gather the information yet so here's where you come in. You can move freely so it would speed up the process, I have marked their locations on your map and once you meet them be sure to repeat this word to them: are the bears still hunting? Once you are done bring you report to me, thank you again. Seems like Veronica made some nice friends outside, even if her courier friend is a bit odd"
Winter walked out of the bunker with many questions but it also was eye opening, Cass let out sigh as they finally reached the light of the moon "The tin cans are… something, they are the odd ones not the boss mailman" she grumbled Winter gave her a look.
"Boss mailman?"
"Your boyfriend is the head honcho of the new caravan, he gives all the money and I make the magic. But I won't bore you with the details, what matters here is that those brotherhood bastards are not really all that into what is changing in Vegas or the NCR" she commented making Winter nod.
She turned to Boone who simply shrugged "To me this people are the enemy, we're still at war with them and they hurt bad… whenever they feel like leaving their holes that is"
"I see, thank you for your opinion. Are you still ok with traveling with me even if I want to help them?" she asked making the two look at each other for a split second. Cass was the first to move placing a hand on her shoulder.
The redhead grinned at her "Hey don't sweat it sister, I can tell you're doing it because you have a nice heart and all that sappy junk. Just be aware of something they might be nice, you might make them see outside with better eyes but you won't change them, I don't know if you saw it but they are like stone" Winter hummed "Maybe but that doesn't mean they are a bad thing to have, somethings are better to be left alone"
Boone looked at his rifle and then to the group "I don't care, Legion is the main problem. So long as they don't help those bastards, I don't care about what they do"
Winter smiled "Good, then let's go"
The informants where easy enough to find, all of them close to defeated enemies. Only Nelson had Legion activity but they were too busy with the NCR to notice the small group speaking to the scout. Winter had made mental notes about what they had said, NCR did not have the grip they boasted in the region. It worried her to the core, they had been bested in Nelson, humiliated by the Powder Gangers and the list just went on and on.
Boone's mood had soured significantly as the reports came in. His former unit, First Recon, was ambushed by the Fiends and suffered losses. Legion was pushing back after the blows dealt to them by both the NCR and Vegas. The fear of failing the approaching Legate Lanius motivated the Legion in a way that Winter did not understand. How can soldiers fear their own leader so much that the simple news of his arrival doubled efficiency? Just who was Legate Lanius?
These thoughts took space in her mind as she handed all this information to the elder, to her surprise the elder requested to speak to her alone. Following him to one of the hidden scribe doors, she was met with a request that sounded like more than a simple fetch quest.
Their bunker was failing and no one had been able to retrieve the missing components from the Vaults spread across the region. There was desperation in his voice, little by little the Brotherhood was dying and no one inside was able to stop.
Compassion motivated Winter as she began her journey towards the first vault, the one in fiend territory. Boone and Cass had left her side as they both had a lot to think about, Boone specially. ED-E was her only companion as she set foot in the ruins that the fiends called home.
"ED-E stay close to me" she muttered to the robot as an uneasy feeling came over her, there was nothing. Nothing but bugs and radroaches, as she got closer and closer to Vault 3 more bodies came to view, missing limbs and decapitated head littered the field.
Six's killing blow to the fiends was more brutal than the report he had given, the door to the vault was open and Winter had to cover her nose, the inside of the vault smelt like death and the bloatflies had made it their home. Wintered powered through as she made a beeline to the area where the component supposedly was, ED-E chirped a bit as he detected someone close to them Winter prepared the LAER at first nothing came to view but a lone figure finally came to view.
"Easy there ED-E, it's just a soldier" Winter commented as she holstered her weapon, the soldier gave her short salute "Honored to speak with you mam, what are you doing here?"
Winter was wondering the same thing but did not voice it, did the NCR come to pick on the bones of their defeated foes? Did they really need resources that badly? She wanted to ask him all that but she knew that he did not know any of that. From what she had learned in the past few months the NCR did not share details with troops all that much "Not much soldier, just checking on the former enemy, carry on"
The trooper nodded "There's nothing inside except a couple of locked doors, oh and what's left of Motor Runner. Monster, got what he deserved" the trooper commented as he left the area, no doubt tired of the smell and suffocating air of the vault. Winter with that mental note in mind kept walking towards deeper into the vault until she arrived at the locked doors that was mentioned, a body blocked the entrance and it did not take a genious to know who it was.
"Jesus" Winter muttered as she pushed the body aside with a kick, Motor Runner was split in half by his own chainsaw, his decaying flesh still tense as his split face was frozen in a scream of either pain or fear. A brutal end to a brutal man, Six had given him a taste of his own medicine.
But it did not mean it was a pretty sight to look at, Winter hacked the terminal and retrieved the component to help fix the bunker leaving the Vault 3 behind, the tomb of the fiends, to rot. As she walked to the next Vault she was surprised as ED-E remained close to her "Something wrong?" she asked as she scratched the top of its head, Ed-E chirped happily as if it could feel it. Winter knew it could not and ED-E was programmed to know that it could not and yet the small interaction made Winter smile.
Their little moment came to a close as they arrived at their next objective, ED-E flew above the area to surveil it as Winter looked at it from her scope. Vegetation had destroyed the entrance but all the creatures near the entrance had been murdered, so it was safe to assume that there was something or someone inside the vault. Winter whistled making ED-E return to her "Set your laser to close range ED-E, I don't like this"
As the duo entered the vault Winter breathed the air rich with pollen and frowned, she decided that she hated how the air felt and how humid it was inside but that did not matter for now. Like all the vaults she had visited before the recreation are and the cafeteria where the easier ones to access, time was not kind to any building in the wasteland but it had hit this one harder than the other vaults. Small plants grew in the cracks that formed in the cement making the vault feel unstable with every step she took, only dead bugs seemed to be in the level and she was sure that the component she was looking for was not here. As she headed for the second level of the vault her ears picked up a familiar noise.
"…help… me"
Someone was in pain, calling for help.
Winter crouched down as she followed the voice and then she found the poor soul who was making all the noise, a prospector was lying on a makeshift bed his right leg was a sickly green but what poured from the wound was not blood rather a greenish sap that made Winter almost vomit.
"I wouldn't touch him if I were you" a voice said as Winter aimed the weapon at the head of the person who had sneaked up on her. The very not amused face of a ghoul greeted her a snort was the reply to Winter's action "Typical"
Winter lowered her weapon and looked towards the man "What happened to him?" there was a pause as the ghoul looked at her with curiosity but the srhigegd "He got infected by one of the many diseased that are here, he won the lottery and won the rarest kind the one that turns you into a half plant half mutant. Suck to be him, I was trying to cure him but my research was interrupted because… well that does not matter now, I was saved by that nice girl and the scary fucker"
"Scary?" Winter asked as the ghoul nodded and pointed towards the elevator "He should be coming up any minute now, he's being battling the residents of the vault for days. He really wants to get his hands on the research conducted here, I don't know how I feel about that. By the way the name's Keely, you NCR?"
Winter shrugged "In a way"
As the elevator opened Winter let out a sigh and she fully relaxed "Six" the courier gave her a large smile and ran to give her a hug "Winter! What are you ding here? Not that I am complaining but it's pretty far away from Hidden Valley"
Winter made him lean a bit so she could whisper in his ear "The bunker is failing, the vaults have what they need"
Six hummed at that information, Veronica walked next to them and rested against the floor "I am exhausted, we're so close though. So close to finally leaving this stupid vault" Keely gave them a side-eye glance as she typed away at the terminal and the results came in.
"Data downloaded"
Keely frowned and turned to Six, the tall man with the red eye had done something that had fucked up her plan "So, you're ready to get started? We have the wasteland to save you know"
Winter looked at them worried "What? what did you do?"
Veronica stepped in this time "Nothing! We just got here a couple of days ago, we had to cut vines and bugs with machetes to make our way through this stupid jungle. But today we managed to reach the deepest part of the Vault and that's where we found Keely, turns out this vault is not only contaminated"
Keely chuckled "That's right, it's growing and it has been doing for a loooong time. At first it was only downwards but now it's getting bolder and claiming the Mojave so I for one don't want Vegas to become a jungle so head to the lower levels and set fire to the area near the vents. I'll try to reroute the ventilation so that all the spores head there along with highly flammable gas, hopefully the fire will wipe that problem out"
Winter looked at her plasma weapon and then to Six, Veronica gave her a thumbs up with her power fist "Hell yeah, that way we won't have to burn to death" as the trio left Keely closed the vault for the safety of them all she said. Winter stared at the creatures that tried to stop their advance in pity.
"They used to be the ones that lived here in the vault" Veronica was quick to mention, Winter nodded as she aimed for the head hoping it would grant them a quicker death. Six frowned as he stared at the ventilation system and then looked at the weapon on Winter's hand.
Six motioned them to follow him as they entered the server room "All right, Veronica stand behind the big machine, Winter get ready to fire. I will try to close the door in time"
Veronica's eyes widened "What do you mean try!?"
Six winked at her as he nodded towards Winter, the specialist let out a sigh as she crouched and aimed towards the vent. Her finger was on the trigger and from the corner of her eye she watched Six's finger on the switch to close the door, so she fired and in slow motion she watched the ray of light head towards the vents. Six slammed the doors shut and waited, at first nothing happened but a small noise reached their ears.
Fire was ignited and what followed was a large explosion that shook the ground. The doors held the fire at bay and as quickly as it came the explosion died leaving only the lingering aroma of destruction behind. The team returned to Keely who seemed surprised to see them survive "Ah so you survived… good, now I just need to make sure that this never happens again. I have deleted the information from the server room but it says that it was downloaded by someone recently"
Her eyes narrowed at Six "Know anything about that?"
Six nodded "Sure do. I was payed to get the information by Dr. Hildern and I need it for something more personal you see. My friend here works with a separate group, one that is interested in studying the data and..."
It doesn't mater who it is or what they want!" Keely interrupted, as she looked at him with distrust "This information is too dangerous for everyone, look at this place. At this creatures! Do you want that to spread across the wasteland?" Six raised his hands in a defensive position.
"Absolutely not, that's why we only need the information on how to rapidly grow crops, I don't want my home to suffocate under the green but I do want the people to have more to eat and drink. Think about it, no need to scavenge when there's fertile soil to grow"
Keely glared at him but id not reply, Winter hummed and offered her point of view "Science can only advance by learning from mistakes. If we don't then we are doomed to repeat it" this made ghoul lower her head and relent.
"Fine" the ghoul said as she pressed a few buttons and the vaut was opened "You may leave, but make sure to tell that asshole Hildern that he better watch what he does with this data"
Six chuckled "I think he can wait, better for you to tell him first then he can have his data. I have something to take care of first" Veronica tensed up as the final decision was fast approaching, Winter noticed this a nd placed a hand on her shoulder.
Keely for her part smiled at the opportunity "Oh don't worry, I will warn him just know that you might not find functioning lab when you deliver the data" Six laughed and waved goodbye as they finally left the Vault. Six breathed in the air and smiled "Aaaah finally, sand some gunpowder and something rotting in the distance. Oh I have missed that smell, that's Vegas baby"
Winter chuckled "I prefer the smell of the big MT, much more sterile I think" she commented as Six looked down at the teleported attached to his hip. He snapped his fingers and turned to Winter "Remind me to check on the brains, they might be done building your teleporter and if they have all we would need is the power and then boom"
A smile made it way to her lips "Home"
"Hell yeah, but for now" Six looked at Veronica who was busy staring at the Lucky 38 at the distance. She looked lost and scared, wondering what would happen to her and how she would live for the rest of her days, Six looked back at Winter "I got to help her find hers"
The last components where found as they made their return to hidden valley, Veronica welcoming the small stops they made on the way. As they descended towards the elder's chamber Veronica was nervous wreck barely having the will to walk forward "Six… I don't…"
A soft hand was placed on her back "It's now or never, you cant keep living like this" the courier spoke in a hushed tone. Winter nodded at her "Whatever happens, we got your back" Veronica mouthed the word 'thank you' as they reached the Elder's chambers and the small girl with the power fist moved by momentum towards the man who had watched her grow. The stairs felt alien to her as she walked towards the man who was oblivious to what was going on inside of her.
"Hello Veronica I wasn't expecting…" a holotape was placed infront of him as Veronica spoke without the fear or nervousness she was feeling.
She gave him a small smile "Got you a present, this technology, information, data or whatever you want to call it that might help us. It can help us grow plants at a rate that it has not been seen ever before; this might be the key to finally trade and do so much not only for us but for…"
Veronica's words faltered as the elder pushed the data back towards her "This doesn't change anything, this doesn't help our cause. We don't help them, we don't let them in Veronica. This is our burden to bear, our duty as Brotherhood. WE keep them safe but that doesn't mean we can save them"
Silence reigned on the room as Veronica stood there with her mouth opened, after some time she nodded and reached for the holotape "I'm sorry Veronica, but that is the Brotherhood of Steel"
She could not look at him in the eye when he said that, but Veronica did let her words reach him "Ad victoriam" was all she muttered as she left the room. Six let out a sigh disappointed, so close to see and yet so in the dark. He did not follow Veronica out of the room just yet as Winter walked towards the elder, McNamara let out sigh. "Sorry about his, Veronica is a good person and I see what she means but I cannot change who we are… even if we are to die out"
Winter hummed "Maybe, but now is not your time. Here's everything that you asked… Veronica helped me gather them" this made the elder smile sadly. As he held the strange devices, he turned to Winter and Six.
"Thank you, I have seen what the holotapes and the reports of the scouts have to say and I see now that I was too cautious. I place the lockdown for the good of my people but now I see that the NCR is not the mighty threat that it claims to be that out defeat at Helios One had more to do with the fact that Elijah was too blinded by greed. I declare that the lockdown be lifted! Thnk you my friends I mean it"
Winter smiled as she and Six left the room to find a devastated Veronica "He wouldn't listen, it was right there. Right in his face! The key to change how we see everything and he did not want to see" Six looked back the elder and frowned.
"Because he can't, the brotherhood will die like this. I don't think no matter what you bring or say will change that Veronica" as the words eeped in her head Veronica nodded and turned to Six "Then what do I do? I don't want to stay here and watch them die"
Winter was the one who stepped in this time "You begin again, like Six did and like I did when I ran from home to something new. You can be something else Veronica, you don't need to be their machine. Family is precious but it cannot rule your destiny"
Veronica looked at both of the as Six placed a hand on her shoulder "Don't worry, I wont let you face this alone. You have a good heart kid and I know just the type of people who could use someone like that. The followers are good people and with all that you know I am sure that they would welcome you with open arms"
"Begin again huh? I would like that"
Veronica walked out of the bunker with a sense of hope, with her two friends close as she prepared for the new life ahead of her unaware that following close by where the remnants of her past that refused to let go.
Six was exited for Veronica as they returned to the Followers outpost, one of the doctors had agreed to take Veronica on as an apprentice. Next to him Veronica was trying hard to hide it but she exited "Sarah said that she's happy that you're going to be working closer to Vegas. She and stripe are planning on visiting soon enough"
Veronica giggled at the comment "The tiny deathclaw would give the poor doctors a heart attack but I won't say no to little Sarah, you planning on visiting or are you simply going to abandon me huh?"
Six snorted "Please, as if you could get rid of me that easily"
Veronica laughed and prepared a wity retort but her words died on her throat as something reached her nose "Six, do you smell that?" the courier smelled the air and frowned "Burnt flesh, recent" the two looked around as they got closer and closer to the outpost and saw smoke coming from the windows. Now worried they ran up the stairs of the small building and opened the door with a big slam.
The sight before her made Veronica fall to her knees "Oh no, please no God"
A metal boot crushed the skull of the dying doctor. Clad in full power armor two knights and one paladin of the brotherhood glared at them "Traitor, you would sell the secrets of our sacred order to this people. We will kill you for this Veronica and your friend for his part in this"
Veronica watched in horror as a plasma gun was trained at her head, her own family ready to kill her. Six on the other hand was not so passive in his approach, he was livid for what they did to the doctors but more importantly for what they have robbed from Veronica.
His saturnite fist made contact with the fist knight slamming him against the wooden wall, dropping him out of the building and momentarily leaving him out of the fight, the other knight came at him with a super sledge from his blind spot and connected at brutal blow that sent Six flying towards the various medical containers. The knight grinned as he watched the man remain on the ground "Done for already?"
Six grinned as he thanked his luck, the followers where storing chems to study them, he hit the jackpot. He stood up his arms covered in pyscho and he finished chowing down on buffout, the knight prepared to attack once again making Six use some jet he had saved just in case. The drugs in his system where amplified by his bionic enhancements and his movement where to fast for the knight to react little by little Six stripped the Power Armor off him with the help of the powerful weapon he had found on the big MT. An uppercut removed the helmet off the knight as he stared in horror at the burning fist coming towards his face, bone and brain mattered where crushed under the force of the weapon. The knight tiwched as life left his body.
"SIX LOOK OUT!" Veronica yelled as she was pushed off from the Paladin, she had managed to restrain him but the returning knight had landed a lucky shot at her, the laser riffle burning away at her clothes and skin. Now free the paladin grinned under his helmet as his laser machine gun heated up ready to rip the bumfuck nobody to pieces.
Six looked at the powerful weapon and let out a sigh "Fuck"
The paladin had to dig in his heels as the machine started firing the power laser ripping through the dessert ranger armor with ease, punching literal holes in the body of the courier. Veronica screamed as she saw her friend fall to ground as the machine stopped its firing the paladin turned to Veronica "Traitor, this is the fate of those who defy the Brotherhood of Steel!"
The paladin prepared to fire once again but to his surprise, something kicked the weapon with enough strength to throw him off balance, the laser instead hitting the knight in close range. The paladin tried in horror to stop firing but another hand was on the trigger and a strong force refuse to let go.
The knight screamed as the metal melted and his skin was burnt.
As the paladin finally freed himself from the man he turned to stare in horror at what had held him in place, the monstrosity before him had overwhelmed power armor. A beast masquerading as a human, something worse than any deathclaw or ghoul "Done for already?"
Six had his organs hanging from his destroyed ribcage his eye opened and the skin on his lower jaw completely melted but it did not matter because he could still fight the machines that had been implanted on him by the brains on the Big MT kept him barely alive. But he did not have much time so with a pleading look towards Veronica he took a swing at the paladin.
The blow connected knocking the helmet of the man as he stumbled back but Six's legs did not have the muscle or the strength to carry him anymore and so he fell to the ground as the paladin steadied his breathing Veronica momentarily forgotten. This was his last mistake, because Veronica knew what Six wanted of her.
She prepared her fist and looked at the exposed back of one of the people she had trusted, that she had loved, the one she had sacrificed everything for and they still refused to let her go. She closed her eyes as blood erupted, she did not need to see to know that she, Veronica, had killed a paladin. As he fell to the ground there was nothing on his eyes but shock and as the light faded so did Veronica's hopes for something more. Six coughed as he tried desperately to get his hands to work "Ve-Veronica… Winter… go to her she will pro-protect you" he finally grasped his teleporter and in the blink of an eye he was gone leaving Veronica alone in the dessert.
Alone to cry because of her broken heart.
Again.
But in the Big MT the cards had been dealt and the decision had been made.
Winter felt cold fury once Veronica returned to the Lucky thirty-eight; the elder was going to have a piece of her mind. Veronica walked next to her as the marched towards hidden Valley the girl still trying to convince Winter that this was not the right choice "He can have you killed, there's no way that he would overlook the death of a paladin and two knights Winter"
"He will, how can a leader look at this and think is ok?! Not only did he almost kill you and Six but he also murdered innocent doctors. I won't simply stand by and let this happen"
Veronica bit her lip "But you have to if you don't…" Winter glared at her. They stopped walking as the specialist used the small height advantage she ahd over Veronica to intimidate her "Listen here Veronica, I don't care that they are powerful I don't care that they can melt me and everyone I know. They can't do as they please it is wrong, if they don't see that then maybe I was wrong. Maybe there is not a place for then in the Mojave but I do not want to even think that because… because I could not live with myself if I destroyed your family"
The air around them seemed to grow cold as an unfamiliar wind current made them look towards Hidden Valley. Something was going on and neither of them could clearly see what it was so they ran towards their destination as they arrived they where greeted by the brotherhood evacuating the bunker, screams of terror echoed from the young ones as the knights and scribes did everything in their power to save the technology that they could. McNamara was to the side holding a wound that looked deep.
Winter ran towards them "What's going on!"
One of the paladins turned to her "Something invisible attacked us! It killed those with the cards to destroy the bunker and wounded the elder… we can't stop it… oh founders our home is gone"
McNamara grunted as blood poured from his lips "Everyone! Leave everything behinf there's no time! You are more valuable than any artifact! Just leave the bunker now that is an order!" as he screamed Winter wondered if she should run in to help the evacuation but her answers where met as the last group of knights ran out the bunker and what followed was a large explosion.
The ones that had been escaping and had not been wearing power armored where burnt instantly and the ones that did have power armor on barely managed to limp towards the elder and the other. Winter stood next to the elder as he tried to steady his breathing, she grabbed a stimpack and injected it near his wound "Easy, don't move you're still very injured"
McNamara looked at the rubble and then to his people "REPORT! Casualties-I want the information right now!" he screamed as the knights and paladins did a headcount. Minutes seemed to drag on for hours as McNamara awaited the response.
"Sir, we lost around ten percent of everyone. We got lucky that the destruction of the base gave us enough time to leave"
The elder laughed "Lucky?! We just lost everything… they killed us… a slow an painful death. We are going to be killed by either the Legion or the NCR the bunker was our only salvation and now it is no longer here"
Veronica looked at her family as they all huddled together, confused and alone just like she had been. Winter on the other refused to believe that she could not save them "Wait, this is only a chapter right? That means that there's more of you out there, can you not join up with them?"
The elder shook his head "It would be impossible for us to head back to California. The NCR has their sights on that area and the only other option the chapter stationed in capital wasteland would require passage through NCR controlled are north of here. He have nowhere to go"
Winter gritted her teeth as she tried to come up with a solution "The NCR can be distracted, this capital wasteland you speak of can be reached if you slip past them right? I will help you, give you supplies I refuse to let you all die!"
This made the elder look at her seriously "You would do that, for us? What can you do that can distract the whole NCR?"
She let out a sigh and put a hand on her chin "The Boomers, they can practice their attacks near the area… I just need time to prepare… Six and I can try at least so don't give up now" Veronica looked around and spotted something glimmering in the distance. A stealth boy had died, she touched Winter's shoulder and motioned with her head to follow her, near Black Mountain they found Six smoking a cigarette as he removed the stealth boy. The sneaking suit greeted them in her usual fashion "Sneaking done, angry girls now"
Six turned to look at them and let out a sigh "Figures, better this way I think. No need to hide it" he dropped the keys to self destruct the bunker and waited for judgement. Winter gasped as the pieces fell into place, he had destroyed the main base of the Brotherhood!
Veronica blinked, her eyes filling with tears as she walked up to him. "HOW COULD YOU?!" she cried at him but Six did not answer, enraged she punched him in the face. Six faltered back a bit as Veronica landed blow after blow on him. A brutal hook sent him to the ground and Veronica had him in a place where she could deliver the killing blow.
"Why?! Why did you kill them? Why did you…" Veronica could not finish her sentence as Six simply spat blood to the side. Winter dissipated her constructs as Veronica finally lowered her fist.
"I could not… stand by and see you die" Six wheezed out as he stared at Veronica, this made the girl slap him. Winter walked over and helped Veronica up.
The specialist heard the sneaking suit inject Six with Med-X and Stimpacks as he stood up "I could see it in your eyes Veronica, you would hide. You would cut yourself off from everyone just to save them… it was worse than death… I could not let you do that. I can carry their blood on my hands; I don't want Winter or anyone to have that kind of crime"
Winter glared "So you simply went and did this without asking, what is wrong with you?"
"I'm sorry Winter, I really am…" Six was slapped again as Winter let out an angry huff "Don't, just don't…" she said as she an Veronica turned their backs on him. Six bit his lip as he nodded at them "I see…"
Winter turned to look at him but Six was gone, the sound of a stealth boy was heard as Veronica could only glare at thin air and spit at him the word:
"Coward"
Winter did not share that feeling, instead she looked sadly at nothing. Did he not love her enough to let her in on what he was planning or did he simply want to save her from damnation. She needed to think and she needed some time alone, but for now she needed to help Veronica and her people.
"The brotherhood of steel in the Mojave has been destroyed" Six said as he stared at Mr. House. If projections could show surprise he was sure that Mr. House would have shown it.
"Well done, in record time too. We have quite the few days to prepare for the next step of our plan. You see President Kimball is set to visit the dam and… " Mr. House stopped as Six raised his hand to speak his mind.
"Oh? Am I boring you Courier Six?"
Six looked at him with a smile "Quite the contrary, the president of the NCR coming to the frontline. If I was the legion I would be jumping with joy but I think Winter should be the one to do this… I have to do something… and I need you to cover for me while I am gone"
This made Mr. House pause as he tried to analyze the situation "And… this is more important than the contract we have? To what we're going to build together?"
"Who said I was not coming back?"
Mr. House chuckled "I know that look, I saw many times in the times of war. Men and women that knew they were not coming back from war. I would prefer if you stay here, I can even give you more salary if you desire I know that a promotion is long overdue"
The courier laughed "Nah, I am not going to war. And I have faith in Winter in seeing this finished and don't tell anyone this but I also have faith in you. So here's the deal boss if I don't come back you have every right to slander my name in the radio and call me all sorts of junk but if I come back triple my salary!"
Mr. House gave him a glare "Double or nothing"
"I'll take that bet, see you around boss" Six said as he walked to the exit. Mr. House prepared everything for the arrival of the president, all the propaganda and everything else but he also prepared the caps for the next payment he would give to the courier, his faith in his lieutenant something he would never share but something that he could not deny that it was there.
A/N: Hello sorry for the wait, now I know that is not how it goes in New Vegas but I wanted to add the survival of most of the Brotherhood for reasons I wont get into just yet. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you found some mistakes let me know I will fix them once this story is finished.
Next Chapter: Winter and the president.