Snowflake on the Sand

You'll know it when the end comes

Winter groaned as she finally rested her body in the bathtub, the last few days had been a pain on her back. The Brotherhood of Steel had left the Mojave, their destination the former capital of the United States of America. Washington or as it was known by the few people that knew of it "The Capital Wasteland", it had taken her an entire day of hard work and aid from some of the Boomers to fully mobilize the NCR away from key areas so that a successful escape was possible.

The NCR believed that the Legion had gotten a hold of weapons in a hidden bunker and so the two headed Bear had woken up from its slumber, the fighting that broke out among the region was more than she expected. Nelson had mobilized and attacked campo Forlone Hope almost taking it, but to the surprise of the Legion their troops began to fall death as a sniper shots rang across the valley. Boone had come to the aid of the army he had once served.

As the Brotherhood became nothing more than shadows in the distance, the region had fallen into a tense silence. Winter as soon as she returned to the Strip was greeted by a securitron that told her of one of the most boneheaded decisions she had heard in a long time.

The president of the NCR was coming to visit the front line of the war, Hoover Dam and if she was Legion she would be licking her lips with all the ways they could kill him, there was no way that Mr. Kimball really thought this was a good idea, what where his generals and advisors thinking letting him go through with this?

A warm bath and a glass of wine was what she needed to soothe her nerves, the radio put a nice atmosphere that let her close her eyes and just enjoy the moment.

"Hello again this Mr. New Vegas and I must say you look beautiful tonight" the popular radio host said as he announced the next few songs coming up, Winter frowned as Johnny guitar was mentioned… again. It seemed to play every few hours.

Winter grumbled under her breath "Who keeps asking for it?"

"Now for some news, the radio at Black Mountain keeps its broadcasting almost for the entire day. News of the legendary Utobita is spreading amongst the Super Mutant population thanks to this broadcast, traders have asked super mutant communities how they feel about this place and the mutants replied that they had nothing to say about this"

Black Mountain? It was close to Hidden Valley if she remembered correctly but getting there meant walking through deathclaw territory and she preferred to keep her limbs attached to her body.

"Also in the news Primm's new sheriff reported massive lights coming from the nearby area known as the Divide by the locals, Sheriff Meyers recommends prospectors to keep avoiding the place and nearby communities to brace for the worst, nothing good ever comes from that place another local commented" Mr. New Vegas said as more local news where said Winter bit her lip as she remembered the ruined hellhole. The screams of something or someone trapped there still echoed in her head, howling in pain into the night.

Turning off the radio Winter put on a robe and walked towards her room just as she was going to turn in for the night a loud crash from the kitchen made her stop. Winter grumbled and made her way towards the common kitchen and the sight before made her chuckle. Cass was passed out on the table more than five bottles of whiskey on the table next to her, Arcade had nodded off after one bottle of wine and Boone was nowhere to be found. The only one standing was Sarah, who was drinking from her bottle of Nuka Cola and drawing something on a sheet of paper. A smile formed across the face of Winter as she approached the young girl "Hard at work Sarah?"

The pale blonde looked up at her "I guess you could say that, I was just doing a list of things that Six wanted me to do and Darla needed some schematics so I am drawing them to help the process. That stupid truck of his is not as easy to make as he likes to think, where is he by the way? I have not heard from him today, the robots said he was here yesterday to speak with Mr. House and now he is gone"

Pulling a chair to sit next to Sarah made the girl turn to give her attention fully to Winter "Did something happen?"

"Yes, Six is… running from his actions, he wanted to help Veronica and he did it by the only way he knew how. Now Veronica is hurt and alone, I just wish Six would have told me of what he was thinking before he jumped to action, we're supposed to be closer you know"

Sarah blinked and then returned to her sketch "He is going to be back, maybe he just needs time to clear his head. And the message he left me on the PipBoy made it seem like he was just going to check on things before the second battle for hoover damn"

This made Winter narrow her eyes "I thought you said you didn't talk to him" the specialist asked as Sarah stopped what she was doing, Winter swore she saw a small drop of sweat on her forehead.

"Yeah, but like physically you know. He wrote to me and said to keep an eye on the Strip and help you if you needed something… I j-just assumed he also sent something to you too so I didn't mention it"

Sarah was hiding more but it was true that she had not checked her PipBoy's messages in quite sometime. She glared at the young girl making her shiver, but did ruffle her hair "Go to sleep Sarah tomorrow we have a lot to do"

"Yes Winter" Sarah said with a relieved sigh, Winter then moved to her room and grabbed the PipBoy and placed it on her wrist. There was one message from Six just like Sarah said and to her surprise it was a long one.

Six had opened up with a smiley face and some dots:

Hello Winter, sorry that I did not stay to talk things like we are supposed to. I really did want too but there is something going near the NCR monument I think I can solve it a be back in couple of days. Hey, I really am sorry about what I did honestly. I think it was the right thing to do for the Mojave, Veronica and even them. I only regret not telling you sooner and i am really sorry about that.

Love you. Six.

Ps. The president is coming hahahahahahhahahahah

Winter snorted as a warmth filled her heart. She had grown attached, grown to love both him and this place. That's why she had to make sure that in the coming days the president walked away unharmed, the NCR could not allow such a blow to morale to happen right at their doorstep so she needed to make arrangements. So with that in mind she went to sleep and prepared to what was to come.

"AAAAH the lobomite returns, running errands for Doctor Mobius I assume?" Klein commented as he stared down at Winter. It had taken them some convincing but the brains had come to see Winter as the original lobotomite that had walked through their door not so long ago. Now enslaved to will of his EVIL master Winter relayed "orders" from Mobius.

She had an easier time with playing the role of a nameless nobody, she was grateful that she did not need to act like a mad scientist bent on controlling science or some crap like that.

"That's right. Mobius wants an update on the wormhole project and he also requires you to give me some of those useless microfusion cells and electron charger… thingies" that sounded like something he would say. Klein bought the story and from one summoned a robo-brain that handed her an entire box filled to the brim with the ammo, Winter's eyes widened as her she realized that her LAER was almost set for the foreseeable future.

Klein smacked the robot to dismiss it "Here, we had those in storage for so long that I was just going to throw it away. Seems like your new body is much more adept at handling those weapons. Theory would suggest that now Mobius is freakishly strong and more capable with a power fist. A terrifying thought, but that doesn't matter at the moment. As for the wormhole project I believe that we have managed to track down the wave that tore open the fabric in space and time on the so called Goodsprings, Doctor Mobius was right. We NEED to find out what this anomaly is and then prod it for all its secrets. Or the communist will get to it first as Borous would say. Bu now that you're here lobotomite I have another mission for you. You might serve under Mobius but remember that you will always be below the MIGHTY Think Tank!"

Winter resisted the urge to roll her eyes "Sure, what do you need"

The brain jar moved towards the map of the Big MT, a red light on one of the research facilities "We have a bit of a predicament, one of the Trauma Harnesses seems to have taken over one of the less important facilities. Normally we would just shell the place and be done with it but its next to one of my favorite nuclear reactors, so I think a more lobotomite approach would be better, just be warned that this stupid think has somehow managed to kill every single one of the machines we have sent after it. Annoys me to no end, now GO leave me to my work"

The jar with a brain returned his computers and schematics as they began to unravel the mysteries of parallel universes and the power to control it, she had never seen the machines so motivated before. What looked like to be a mad request by the mad scientist turned out to be a reality and that made them all motivated, she wondered what drove them.

Love for their old home, America? For science? Or simply the need to do something?

She would never know she assumed, the mad gods of the big MT worked on ways that she did not fully understand but she needed them and for that she would eliminate the Trauma Harness. So with that she walked towards the red dot in her map, the brains already hacked her PipBoy and put her location on there. For someone who hated House so much Doctor Zero sure did have an easy time working with the technology that his rival produced.

The first sings that something was wrong seemed obvious when the destroyed remains of protectrons and buildtrons scattered the small research facility. Two Robo-brains, with the glass that contained their brain shattered, rested next to a rock as she realized that something was glimmering in the distance.

"SHIT!" Winter screamed as she tried to duck but the shot landed straight on her forehead, the powerful blow sent her back as her aura flared. The single shot almost shattered it, Winter groaned as she felt the headache begin to set in but there was little time to worry about that. The sniper had no doubt already reloaded and she was a sitting duck, she needed to find cover and the dead robots where bulky enough for that. Jumping towards cover she tried to pinpoint where the sniper was but as she was going to check for anything that gave it away a large chunk of the robot she was using as cover was destroyed.

"What kind of bullet is that!" she screamed as she moved towards a better position, it could not be a normal sniper rifle. It had the power of a super sledge to the face, she kneeled next to some rocks as she finally spotted the green line that was following her. Winter followed the green sight all the way back to its owner and she spotted it near the tower, no wonder it had such an easy time to spot anything in the big MT. He was above everything and everyone with a clear shot at their heads but it also made him vulnerable and she had modified her LAER.

Grabbing a protectron she used her glyphs to launch it towards the tower making the skeleton point his rifle at the movement and fire, all the time Winter needed to jump out of her rock and aim, the new scope she had installed giving her a clear view of her target. In slow motion her red laser pointer met the green one as the monster out of a sci-fi horror tracked her down again, but it was to late for it to fire the full blast of her shot hit the skeleton on the skull shattering the remaining bits of glass left and with nothing to protect it the skull was launched back as the Trauma Harness tried to pull itself together Winter fired another one that knocked it off the tower.

She had never heard the things scream before and now as not the exception but Winter was sure that if it could the monster would have screamed as it fell to its doom, a sickening crack resonated on the air of the Big MT as the trauma harness could no longer protect its host. As it was split open and the entrails that had once being organs fell out the skeleton finally let go of its mighty weapon and Winter walked up to it and picked it up, while she was not a gun nut like her boyfriend she could not help but whistle as she held in her hands. Looked like it packed one hell of a punch too but she was not sure it was meant for her, even so she put in on her back and moved towards the Sink so she could walk in the sands of the Mojave again.

Hoover Dam had seen a lot over the course of the years, from when it was first build a source of clean energy, to when it served the excess of the people when America was ontop the world, but now that the Great War had long since passed and the remnants of the old war had shaped into new civilizations the great wall had become something else.

A symbol, one that the NCR sought to claim fully this time. With it there was nothing that would impede their expansion to trule become the greatest nation of the New World.

To Caesar the great wall was the final test to his Legion, a symbol that could make or break the slave empire.

And for House, it was a furnace where he would mold the new world he sought to create.

But to Winter right now it was massive fuck off headache, every single corner was almost unprotected, the hills had many vantage points and the only thing that the NCR really had going for them was how backwards the Legion was, but what they lacked in technology they more than made up in violent creativity.

Because this was such delicate affair she decided she only needed one person to accompany her this time, but sadly her preferred choice Boone was nowhere to be found. The sniper had disappeared into the sandstorms of the Mojave with one destination in mind: Bitter Springs. The last thing Cass knew of him was that he was searching atonement.

That left an open space that she did not think either Cass or Arcade could fill, Cass not really subtle or all that familiar in how she worked. While Arcade now more preoccupied with what was to come at the battle had begun to train under the remnants to be more effective with the power armor his late father wore.

Leaving only little Sarah to accompany her, the lab rat looked almost out of place next to the taller woman as she nervously walked some steps behind her. "Chin up Sarah you're part of an official Atlas operation now"

"W-what is… Atlas?" Sarah nervously asked Witner gave her a small grin and pointed at herself proudly "My kingdom ofcourse and everything I do is an operation for it so that means that I am on a mission right now and you have been promoted to one of my aids"

Sarah blinked as she tilted her head "Kingdom? Are you like a princess?"

"Call me that again and I will make you clean the abandoned lucky thirty-eight pool with a toothbrush" Winter glared making the child squeak as she nodded. "Yes mam!"

Winter fully smiled "Good, you're a fast learner I see. Come on we have to get to the major in charge of this operation" Sarah nodded as she walked with her back straightened.

"How did they even contact you Winter, I thought that the embassy already had their hands full with everything going on in Freeside. Last I heard one of the Kings beat up an NCR soldier and from what Jamie says the soldier boys want vengeance"

"Jamie?" Winter asked with a raised eyebrow

"Oh, he is my… friend hehe" Sarah chuckled nervously as a small blush spread across her cheeks, Winter felt a small sense of protectiveness come over her "One of the kings huh? I don't like that gang very much Sarah be careful around them and this Jamie better not try anything funny"

Sarah shook her hands "No, don't worry they are harmless and the king is such a nice guy. They really want what's best for Freeside and Jamie… Well I don't know it's just that Darla is also there and I don't know who to ask because Six would just laugh at me and…"

Winter chuckled "Oh don't worry we will talk about matters of the heart later Little Heart Breaker, but for now" Winter gently smacked her on the back of the head "Head on the mission" the blonde snapped out of her blushing mess and nodded her eyes looking around.

A man with an eyepatch approached them, a ranger who seemed to have gone through hell and back "Specialist Winter?"

"Yes sir, reporting to offer assistance"

This made the ranger let out a sigh "No need for formalities soldier, we really are too deep in shit to bother with that sort of protocol" Winter nodded as she adopted a more casual stance.

"So then, what can you tell me of the situation Ranger?" the question made the ranger laugh.

He pointed towards the sky "The vertibird carrying the president is coming later in the afternoon and fuck me he could not have picked a worse time for this bullshit visit. Nelson almost destroyed Forlone, we were attacked by bombs and only God knows if they still have some of that firepower hidden away to strike at us or worse aim those weapons at the president"

Winter nodded and pointed at the hills "Those weak points, are they being patrolled?"

"Yes, rangers and troops are making sure that nothing can come from outside, we used sniper rifles to determine where they would be able to shoot at him and there is no way they can do from the mountains, if someone is going to attack him is going to be from the dam"

Winter nodded as she looked at the first tower in the distance and used her newly acquired sniper rifle to scope out the area "Permission to do a security sweep?"

"Granted, I'll assign a ranger to accompany you"

Sarah on the other hand was marbling at the sight of the water that flowed bellow, the powerful cascade of nature making it possible for the artificial lights to remain operational

"Found something Sarah?" Winter commented as she stood next to her to stare at the surroundings, the smaller girl pointed towards the water "I read in one of the many reports my parents that my parents forced me to study that back in the time of the great war this place almost had no water, it's so hard to imagine now that I see the place with my own eyes… report twenty-eight x, I think it was one of the last reports before they s-sold me to the Omertas"

Winter pulled the girl into a half hug, Sarah happily leaned in as they waited for the ranger "Do you ever think about revenge? Or simply ask them why they did that to you?"

"I used to" Sarah said with a sigh "The Omertas wanted me dead because I did not bring in the caps and on those lonely nights where everyone avoided me like the plague I just wanted to know why. Why was not I worthy of being loved by them? Was I so useless that selling me was better in their eyes? But I think I stopped thinking that the first night at the lucky thirty eight… I was really happy, I met a hero that day"

Before Winter could comment on that a familiar voice reached her ears "Hey sorry for the wait, I needed to assign my work to another fucker and then I had to sign some bullshit papers. You know NCR bullshit but it's nice to see you again mam"

Winter smiled and gave a firm handshake to the ranger in black armor "Ranger Gloria, the pleasure is all mine. Sorry for interrupting any mission you might have had"

The ranger snorted "Please, I get pulled from actual work to serve as a glorified bodyguard here. Your visit is the best thing that has happened to me since I found that gecko meat can make one mean burger" the ranger then turned to Sarah "Hey kid, you didn't bring your pet right?"

Sarah shook her head with a small laugh "I figured that a tiny deathclaw would not be the best thing to have around in such a… tense location" the ranger gave a nod "Guessed right, even standing around doing nothing here feels like you are doing a workout. Like some legion slaver is going to jump out of the walls to get my ass, but anyways lets get this show on the road. Where do we begin the sweep?"

Winter looked at the tower "There, I had a recent experience with an enemy sniper. If I wanted a clear shot I would go there"

Gloria made a face under her mask "Huh, I would agree with you but we have someone posted up there. A sniper ironically he is making sure that nothing gets past us, but if you still want to check it out we can walk over there"

Winter nodded "Please, it could give us an idea of where the enemy could strike. Sarah stay down here please, I will try to spot you from up there. While you wait think of places legion might attack"

Gloria escorted Winter towards the tower "Cute kid, you know I originally assumed it was yours and Vegas Boys but the timeline didn't add up" Winter gave her a look "We are not… yet at that stage in our relationship"

"Hehe, I know I am just messing with ya. But on a more serious note the higher ups where not happy that he hired a bunch of our people to work for him instead. I get better wages and better living conditions, but I would lie if I didn't say that it has my ranger senses tingling. Just be careful when mentioning him around here, some of the stupid folks are calling him the shadow of Vegas and it has put the big boys on edge"

Winter frowned but didn't comment as they began to climb the stairs up the tower, Darla was one of the engineers that was now under the banner of Vegas but she never really put that much thought into it but now that she really thought about it Mr. House's plan and Six's ideals all seemed to want one conclusion the NCR to win the war but… there was something there that she did not get quite yet.

"Don't worry she's with me, doing a security sweep" Gloria said making the ranger lower his weapon. "I see… nothing to report then, I spotted our patrols by the hills and I also spotted some civilians getting close. They won't get close enough to hurt the president"

Winter looked down and spotted Sarah "Ranger tell me something, is the place where the crowd is going to be near the location of the blonde down there?"

The Ranger looked down and then nodded "Yes, wealthy NCR citizens and important people of the region have been allowed to witness the speech. We did a background check on everyone and it all checks out" Winter frowned as she took out the sniper rifle and checked the distance between the podium and the crowd "I see, Gloria dynamite or some type of throwing explosive can be used. Identities can be faked and one can never be too sure of what's going to happen"

"I agree with that, don't worry I will be in the crowd checking that no one moves or acts suspicious. Now I think the time is coming, where will you be when the president arrives?"

Winter looked at the area and let out a sigh "I should go down there and talk to Sarah, but then I guess it would be best if I stay up here to keep watch. If that is ok with you ranger?"

The sniper nodded "I don't mind the company"

Gloria nodded and headed down the stairs followed closely by Winter, Sarah was reading a magazine that made Winter frown "Reading on the job?" without looking up Sarah snorted "I wish, I remember that there was a problem with Vertibirds that made them easy to sabotage. While on the air they are a formidable foe there was something about the vents that I just can't quite remember just yet"

Winter nodded in approval "I doubt anyone would be allowed near the presidents Vertibird, but congratulations that's your mission now. Keep an eye on that machine Sarah and if you see anything suspicious you tell the NCR got it?"

"Yes Winter, I won't let you down"

Gloria heard something in the distance and cursed "Shit, looks like the time has come. They are letting in the civies; everyone get to position. I will just mingle with the crowd once they get here, good luck to both of you"

Winter nodded at Sarah as she walked towards the tower and Sarah just walked towards the visiting center. Parting the cloud a giant Vertibird made its way towards the dam and the awed people that had never seen a machine fly cheered at the arrival of the president. Old music machines came to life as a song that Winter did not recognized began to play, the vertibird had finally touched hoover dam and everyone on security tensed up.

President Aaron Kimball walked without a care in the world, his chin held up high as he waved and smiled at everyone. Some soldiers cheered at him, but Kimball was more preoccupied with waving at the crowd of wealthy and influential people. Winter resisted the urge to scoff, typical politician.

The financial backers mattered more it seemed.

But right now the type of leader that he was did not matter, she would not let a hair on his stupid head get harmed.

"Thank you my fellow Americans" the president said as he began his speech about how the NCR was built with the help of people that came from nothing and became strong in unity, Winter could see the injured soldier almost cry as his story of struggle and overcoming said struggles was told to the masses. She wondered if he knew that his story was being used to further Kimball's image.

Sarah did not pay mind to Kimball not even when he walked next to her with his imposing ranger bodyguards, she did not care for the NCR but she did care for Winter so Sarah watched with attention her surroundings. From the corner of her eye she saw movement. A man dressed as an engineer just descended from the landing area of the vertibird but instead of walking near the rangers and the other troopers he instead jumped to edge of the damn and towards the river.

"Oh no" she muttered as she moved towards the gate only to be stopped by a strong hand "Hey no one but authorized personal"

Sarah pointed behind him "Someone just came from the president's vertibird! I think they might have done something" The trooper frowned "Nice try, but if anyone is back there they are authorized to be there. Now tell me what is the REAL reason you want to see the president's vertibird"

Sarah gulped as she saw the weapon of the soldier move towards her stomach "I… always wanted to see the president's vertibird, it's a dream of mine"

This made the soldier chuckle at the small girl and lower his weapon "Oh yeah? Sorry kid, can't do that like I said only authorized people can go there" Sarah wanted to pull her hair out, this was ridiculous. The president was in danger for fucks sake!

"Pr-pretty please" she fluttered her eyelashes and prayed to god that she got shot, but to her surprise the soldier laughed "You're adorable, fine head up but be very quick about it"

Sarah nodded quickly and almost ran towards the vertibird, as she reached the ship she retrieved her backpack and pulled out an explosives magazine that Six had gifted her incase she ever needed to deal with explosive "Ok… so this are the one that can make things go boom. And if I wanted to put a bomb I would put it riiiight… here!" Sarah grabbed the package and pulled out a C-4 bomb with the symbol of the red bull. Quickly throwing it towards the bottom of the river Sarah let out a relieved sigh as she walked down the stairs and back to her original spot.

"Happy to help you reach your dream kid" the soldier said with a smile as Sarah could only muster a small wave as her cheeks burned with shame "Pretty please my ass"

Near her Gloria was scanning the crowd, waiting for any sort of movement to happen and just as her eyes landed on one person. One of the wealthy Brahmin barons reached into his own skin to reach for a throwing knife "This legion bastards" Gloria muttered through gritted teeth as she jumped in time to not only grab the man but pull him from the crowd undetected. She stabbed him in the throat with his own knife as blood covered her gloves, Gloria smirked under the helmet.

Unseen and unheard, ranger style.

Winter had long stopped listening to the president as her eyes darted from place to place to spot anything that might be out of place, she spotted Sarah and Gloria already back at their original places and as the applauses signaled the end of the speech something changed in the air as from one of the locked vents behind her a lone legion sniper arrived he stabbed the ranger in the throat and took aim at the president. Winter punched him and the shot him with the LAER but he had already shot at the target.

Out of time and out of options Winter launched herself towards the trajectory of the bullet and took the shot. The bullet took the wind out of her, but the fall shattered her aura Winter groaned in pain as she looked towards the president who had forgotten to turn off his mic "Let's get the fuck out of this shithole, everyone here is not deserving of my time"

Winter coughed and then laughed, the president comiting professional suicide aside the day was a success, as she managed to sit down and look at the president FINALLY leave the Mojave she made a finger gun at the vertibird and indulged her inner child "Bang bang baby"

As the vertibird became a spec in the distance Winter spotted a peculiar cloud near Primm, it looked like a mushroom.

A/N: I love: You'll know it when it happens. It's so fun if you are going with House or Yes man because you can just let him die hahaha. I hope you liked this solo Winter chapter, she's really fun to write and that's why I chose her above my original pick Weiss who would have been fun but not as capable. Now only the divide and the battle for Vegas remains and after that the sequel and maybe a prequel for Six. Let me know if you are interested. Thank you for reading and also have happy(late) new year!