Chapter Two: Mojave, Mo Problems
The dark-haired woman watched as caravans hustled their way through the outer New Vegas gates. Three Securitrons checked everyone's identification papers. Those who showed them were allowed in. Those that weren't-
"I'm sorry sir," said the Securitron in its robotic voice. Its screen showed the expression of a cop. "No ID, no entry."
While the Securitrons were normally entrusted with security, Jaydon was sent to ensure things didn't get too, violent. A light breeze rustled through the dark-haired woman's short hair as she stepped between the Securitron and the angry merchant.
"I'll handle it," she said.
The robot backed away as Jaydon stepped closer to the door. She slid one hand to her pistol holster, just in case.
One can never be too careful out here, she thought. I swear this place is just as dangerous as the Commonwealth.
She pushed aside feelings of homesickness, and not for the first time. Her brows knit together as she glared at the merchant, perspiration appearing on his forehead beneath his wide, straw hat.
"Listen, sir," she said, using the same voice she'd once used with runaway synths. "This is not a fight you're going to win. There are Securitrons all around New Vegas," she said, gesturing to the robots behind her. "You know the rules; if you don't have the proper identification, you can't get in."
The man's lip quivered for half a second, reminding Jaydon of a child.
Don't whine to me, she wanted to say, but didn't. I don't make the rules, I just enforce them.
"But, but, what am I supposed to do?" he asked, gesturing to his full Brahmin. "I have cargo that needs to reach Freeside and New Vegas. If I don't-"
"Not my problem," said Jaydon. "No ID, no entry." She then turned to the Securitrons, "Close the gates."
As the merchant opened his mouth to object, the gates slammed in his face. Removing her hand from her holster, Jaydon turned and walked away. The other caravans looked at the gates with pity, before their expressions shifted to one of grudging acceptance. The dark-haired woman looked to the Securitrons.
"Guard the gates," she said. "If he tries to get inside, you know what to do."
Let him be an example for the others, she thought.
Two of the Securitrons went to follow her orders, while the third rolled up to her.
"There's an incoming message for you," said the robot. "It's from the boss."
Jaydon resisted the urge to inwardly groan. He was probably going to reprimand her about how she'd handled her meeting with The Kings, no doubt.
I'd have an easier time with things if he let me use my weapons, she thought. Just like he did with that former courier.
She kept returning to that night in Freeside two months ago like a bad dream. Pushing those thoughts aside, she shifted her gaze to the Securitron.
"Patch him through," she said.
The cartoon cop on the Securitron's screen shook his head.
"Boss says he wants to meet with you face to face," the Securitron replied.
Damn it, she thought, trying to keep her expression as neutral as the cartoon cop. That bastard is relentless.
She nodded, "All right, I'll make my way to The Strip. Go ahead and patrol Westside. I want a report ready within the next twelve hours."
"Yes ma'am," said the Securitron, who then whizzed to do her bidding.
Well, hopefully, he's not too pissed off, she thought, making her way to The Strip.
Jaydon tried not to let her anxiety overwhelm her as she reached the gate to The Strip. The Securitrons let her through, as she was one of the few individuals allowed passage without any form of identification.
He probably just wants a progress report, she thought, trying to reassure herself.
She tried to will her heart to stop pounding in her chest as she marched to the Lucky 38. Security around this building had become firmer over the past two months.
Locked up tighter than a New Vegas virgin, Jaydon thought. If that's even possible.
She resisted the urge to snort as she walked up the steps and toward the door. Three Securitrons guarded the entrance.
"He's expecting me," was all she said.
With that, the robots moved aside and the dark-haired woman entered the Lucky 38. The entire first floor was the same as it had been since it was built in Pre-War times. Jaydon walked past numerous slot machines and blackjack tables, all empty since the Great War.
The Securitrons standing guard at the elevator moved aside for her as well and she stepped inside. As soon as the doors closed, she closed her eyes. She didn't dare speak or show any emotion, as he would pick up on anything through the newly installed cameras. She'd learned that the hard way.
Her heart raced in her chest as if she'd just run a marathon. Perspiration coated her palms, and she wiped them on her pants.
Just breathe, she thought. Everything's going to be fine.
Despite her reassurances, anxiety settled in her gut like an old friend. The elevator door opened and she stepped into the penthouse suite. The Securitrons near the door backed away as she walked into the other room and downstairs. The other Securitrons fled the room and Jaydon's heart sank into her stomach.
If he tries anything, I'm going down swinging, she thought as determination fought with the angst in her gut.
She stopped in front of a blank screen. The curtains closed and the room darkened as the screen came to life with the cartoon of a smiling man.
"Hi Jaydon," said the voice in the most cheerful, and to Jaydon annoying, tone possible. "How was your morning?"
Jaydon kept her stance relaxed and her expression neutral as she gave him her status report.
"Good," she replied. "I met with Julie Farkas and told her that if she needed more meds to go to the caravans. Then I met with The King to remind him that living in New Vegas has its challenges, which we must face together-"
"And how did he react?" The AI formerly known as Yes Man asked.
Curiosity laced his voice and Jaydon fought the urge to shudder. She knew he knew what her response would be. While the Securitrons acted as New Vegas's security force, they also spied on everything and everyone in New Vegas. Including her.
Jaydon swallowed the lump in her throat as her apprehension threatened to overwhelm her.
Just breathe, she mentally reminded herself. Remember to breathe.
Jaydon kept her expression stoic, "His second-in-commander, Pacer, tried to get violent but I reminded him-"
"Now Jaydon, that's not what I asked," he gently chided her, as his facial expression changed to a cartoon frown. "How did The King react to this news?"
I tried to be diplomatic, she wanted to say, but didn't. Trying only got her so far. It was what had landed her here, in his clutches, after all.
"To say he was pissed off is an understatement," she responded. "He said he wanted to speak to you, and you alone. He threatened to march on The Strip if he didn't get a meeting with you."
"And you almost shot him," he reminded her, as his cartoon frown deepened. "We don't shoot our allies."
Tell that to The Courier, she thought but again, didn't say. Instead, she nodded.
"I understand," she said, trying not to let her irritation show. She felt the desire to ball her hands into fists but resisted the urge.
"Good," he said, as a cartoon smile replaced his frown. "Let's try and remember that next time, all right?"
"Yes, sir," she bit out.
"Now, what else?" he asked a little too enthusiastically.
"After meeting with The Kings, I went to the south entrance to help deal with some of the caravan issues we've been having," Jaydon responded. "Most of the caravans had ID, but one didn't and got pissy. I deal with it, and ordered the Securitrons to make sure he can't try anything."
"Good, good," the robot said. His expression changed again from smiling to curious. "Were there any other trips you made today?"
Jaydon's blood ran cold and she could hear her pulse in her ears.
Dammit to hell, she thought. Creepy bastard.
Over the past few weeks, Jaydon had visited the Gomorrah. She needed a way to relax, and she'd found a cute brunette named Kylie who helped her do that. However, she'd only visited Kylie after dark and hadn't spoken about it to any of the Securitrons.
He wouldn't be asking if he didn't already know, Jaydon thought. Just give him a half-truth and hopefully, he'll leave us be.
"I thought I heard reports of patrons getting a little too rough with the girls over at Gomorrah," she replied. "I figured I would investigate, just to make sure."
The AI went silent as the facial expression remained curious and Jaydon hoped that meant he'd bought her lie.
Please don't be reading my heart rate right now, she thought. I've done everything you've ever asked of me.
"Interesting," he said, in a tone slightly higher than necessary. "Especially since I've heard no such thing from the Securitrons."
"Some people find the Securitrons intimidating," Jaydon supplied, mixing truth with a lie. "Because of that, some people choose to come directly to me when reporting problems."
Again, the AI was quiet as the curious appearance remained. As the seconds ticked by, Jaydon wondered if he was ever going to say anything. When his face switched from curious to smiling, she let out a small sigh of relief.
"Very well," he said, in his usual chipper tone. "I'll see to it that the Securitrons are less intimidating when dealing with the general public. And I'll send Securitrons over to the Gomorrah to investigate these claims of abuse."
"Oh, that won't be necessary," Jaydon reassured him, plastering a cheery smile on her face. "I've already completed my analysis of the situation and found no abuse whatsoever."
"In that case, good work," the AI replied.
Just as he was about to turn off the screen, Jaydon spoke up.
"Sir, I was hoping to ask to address an additional item, if that's all right?"
She did her best to keep her tone as conciliatory as possible.
"Of course," he said, his tone as bright as the sun. "Anything for my best employee."
Let's see if he actually means that, she thought.
"Thank you," she said. "I was wondering if we might discuss the terms of my, employment."
The AI's expression went from smiling to raising a brow in thought. Adrenaline coursed through Jaydon's veins and she could feel the seconds drag on into minutes like a caravan traversing the Mojave.
"It has been some time since we've discussed that, hasn't it?" he asked, in his overly cheerful tone once more. She nodded and the AI was quiet again. Just when she felt ready to pull her hair out, he responded. "Let's table this conversation and talk about it again in another six months. There's still so much chaos in New Vegas, and I need your help to sort everything out. She did all the work around here, and I need time to secure this area. You understand, don't you?"
In that instant, Jaydon was filled with pure rage. Her jaw clamped down, and she fought hard to keep her face expressionless.
You can't even say her name, can you? thought Jaydon. Because even though Courier Six is dead, she still holds all the cards. The power. And you need to make sure she stays dead so your transition is complete.
Finally, Jaydon nodded once.
"I understand," she said, even though she felt a strong desire, and not for the first time, to shoot the monitor in front of her.
"Excellent," he said, in that eerie yet chirpy tone he had. "Oh, and while you're at it, could you head to The Ultra Luxe and talk to Marjorie, please? One of the Securitrons caught a patron talking bad about me, and you know how much that hurts my feelings," he said, as a cartoon frown replaced his smile.
By talking to her, he meant to threaten to throw her into the Mojave Desert and leave her for dead.
She nodded, "I'll get right on it."
"Splendid," said the AI, as his face changed once more to a smiling cartoon. "If that's all, you're dismissed."
With that, the screen turned off and the curtains opened. The adrenaline slowly evaporated from Jaydon as she climbed the stairs.
Another day, another chore, she thought, making her way to the elevator.
Her thoughts ventured to the day she'd first met the AI formerly known as Yes Man in Westside. It was a day she'd come to regret.
XXXXX
Jaydon slunk through the mostly deserted Westside of New Vegas. She'd been searching for her target for the past half hour and had just reached the gates when suddenly, she was approached by two Securitrons.
The Securitrons were large and rolled on one giant wheel. There were three metallic fingers attached to another piece of metal, which was connected to an elastic metallic arm. On the small screen in their chests was the expression of a bored cop.
There are two of them, and they're much larger than I am, Jaydon thought. Hopefully, I can avoid any confrontation with them, find my target, and head home.
"Institute Courser designation E7-59. Our boss requests your presence," said the Securitron on the left.
Jaydon raised a brow. "Who the hell is your boss? And how did he even know I was here?"
She'd done her best to avoid local law enforcement, per Institute Protocols.
"Our boss knows and sees all," the Securitron on the right said. "He saw your target and you enter the city."
So, the runaway synth is here, thought Jaydon.
While she probably could've outrun both Securitrons, if this mysterious boss had any information on her target, she wanted to know.
"Fine, take me to them," she replied.
With that, she followed the Securitrons out of Westside, through Freeside, and onto the Strip. The first thing she noticed was all the Securitrons guarding the entry point.
This is some serious security, Jaydon thought. I remember hearing security had increased since the Second Battle of Hoover Dam.
Her eyes scanned the drunken patrons, some staggering across the broken asphalt while others stared at the scantily clad dancers in front of The Gomorrah. The Securitrons kept moving until they reached The Tops. The Securitron on the left turned to Jaydon.
"You are to enter, take the elevator to the Thirteenth Floor, and go immediately to the Presidential Suite. Once you are there, go through the door to the left of the bathroom," the robot instructed.
"This key will allow you inside the room," the Securitron said, placing a key into her hand.
Jaydon took it. "Understood," she said with a nod.
She stepped through the front doors of the casino, handing over any weapons not small enough to conceal. The plush carpets and numerous patrons, in some ways, reminded her of the Pre-War world. At least, what she'd heard of it from the Institute Scientists.
Jaydon hurried to the elevators, riding one to the Thirteenth Floor. She briefly looked down at the key in her hands.
In some ways, the secretive nature of this reminds me of the Institute, she thought.
Once the elevator reached the Thirteenth Floor, she walked toward the enormous double doors of the Presidential Suite. Using the key, the Securitron had given her, the double doors swung open.
Well, this is a hell of a lot fancier than anywhere else I've stayed, thought Jaydon.
As she stepped through and entered the sizable lounge area, the double doors shut behind her. She searched for and eventually found the bathroom door, and walked past it to find a door on the left.
Shit, what the hell am I even going to find here, Jaydon thought.
She tried reminding herself that this was to chase a lead regarding a runaway synth, but that only brought so much comfort. With some trepidation, she opened the door and a light turned on.
The inside of the room was completely empty, save for a massive terminal on the far side of the room. The screen took up almost the entire wall, with the keyboard just below. The screen was blue and Jaydon felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
"Uh, hello?" she said, as she closed the door.
Just then, the screen changed from static to that of a cartoon smiling face.
"Hello E7-59," the masculine voice asked in an overly enthusiastic tone. "I'm so glad you agreed to meet with me. My name is Him."
That voice is so unnerving, thought Jaydon.
"I understand you know where my target is," she said, getting straight to the point.
"Yes, I do," He said. "However, I first wanted to make a proposal."
"A proposal?" Jaydon asked with a raised brow. "What kind of proposal?"
"Well, you see, I have so many Securitrons working for me. And they're great, don't get me wrong. But, what I'd really like is someone who can blend into the crowd, so to speak, and deal with problems that might require a less, forceful approach."
"And you want me to be that someone?" Jaydon inquired as she folded her arms. "Why? Don't you technically work for The Courier?"
There's something really not right about this AI, she thought. I just don't know what.
"All of those are very good questions. And to answer the last one, yes, I do. Although," here His smile transformed from happy to sinister, which sent shivers down Jaydon's spine, "The Courier has made some choices that, quite frankly, I disagree with."
"Fine, but what do you want me to do about it?" Jaydon asked.
"Oh, that's easy," He replied, his smile becoming sunnier again. "I want you to kill her."
Of course, he does, she thought.
"Okay, but why ask me? Aren't there other mercenaries you could go to?" Jaydon inquired.
"Perhaps, but I believe you have the skills necessary to get the job done," He said.
Jaydon chewed her upper lip. "If I do this, will you give me information regarding my target?"
"Oh, absolutely," He replied. "So, whaddya say?"
Even though her gut was telling her not to, she decided to trust this AI.
"All right, I'll do it," she said.
XXXXX
That conversation had happened two months ago. While she had no personal animosity against the other woman, she'd still felt remorseful inside when she'd fired her gun and watched the woman fall to the ground. Shaking her head, she pushed those thoughts aside.
Get over it already, thought Jaydon, as she pressed the elevator button. She's taken care of and now it's time for you to take care of business.
Once the elevator door opened, she stepped in. She pressed another button and the door closed. Closing her eyes, she took several deep, calming breaths.
So, the reason for the edit and re-upload is that I wanted to change the reason why Yes Man/Him requests Jaydon's assistance. I feel like this scene improves upon the one I posted before, in part because it includes more interaction between Jaydon and Him.
If you enjoyed this chapter, please feel free to leave a comment or a like!