Looking in the mirror at the Lucky 38, Charles saw his rotting carcass reflected back at him, but a sense of hope washed over him. With the Iron Gang dealt with, Freeside might avoid falling into further violence, though the terror group's murder in Benver still weighed heavily on his mind.
He changed into the fanciest suit he could find, which brought back memories of the pre-war days when he wore the same suit at events. It didn't look as good on him now, but it was the best he could manage for Kimball's speech at Hoover Dam.
To cover the more ghoulish aspects of his appearance, he topped off his outfit with a fedora and shades. Iris, then commenting said, "All good, I take it, Charles?"
"Yeah, just have to catch the buses to Hoover Dam," he replied.
"Alright, well good luck. Who knows if there might be any Legion shooters with the president there."
"You know how the NCR are. They have to keep up morale, but security should be tightened. If not, the situation for the NCR soldiers and, subsequently, our position in Freeside could become quite tenuous and this speech could come back to bite them in the ass."
"Yeah, got it. Just be safe, alright, Charles?" Iris said, her voice carrying a hint of concern.
"When have I ever let you down, Iris? Anyway, I'll be going now. Love ya, bye." Charles replied with a slight smile.
"Bye," she responded as he left.
Exiting the Lucky 38, Charles made his way to the buses waiting outside the gates of Freeside.
As he approached, he felt the reassuring weight of his trusty revolver in his breast pocket—just in case any trouble occurred.
As Charles walked toward the Freeside gates, few people seemed to notice him, though his sharp outfit made him stand out a bit. There were several other well-dressed people boarding the buses, which made him blend in just enough.
While walking, his mind wandered to his decision to bring Jack back with Ethel. He wondered if it had been the right move and if anyone might catch on that Jack was actually an IONV agent, despite still using his code name "Hugo." He justified it to himself, recalling his conversations with Iris and House, who seemed to trust him.
Passing by the Old Mormon Fort, he couldn't help but wonder if the Followers of the Apocalypse were involved with the terror group in some capacity, especially after his controversial decision to kill Emily Ortal. Though the Followers were supposed to remain neutral and help the people, Charles couldn't shake the feeling that New Vegas may have lost a strong ally. Still, he justified his action, feeling that establishing a semblance of New Vegas order in outer Freeside was more important—especially since Ortal had been helping Benny with his plot.
Once Charles exited the gates, he saw several bodyguards stationed outside, offering their services. Most were catering to average-wealth individuals, as the wealthier NCR elite usually brought their own security upon entering Freeside.
As he walked toward the bus, a large crowd had gathered. Many weren't even there for the bus but were likely part of the rabble, some protesting the NCR while others just watching, forcing Charles to bump into a few people along the way. His appearance and scent drew quite a few stares, but he kept on walking through.
When he finally reached the line for the buses, an NCR soldier standing by, clipboard in hand, was looking at names. As Charles approached, the soldier looked up and asked, "Name?"
"Charles House," Charles replied.
"Get on. Next!" the soldier called, waving him through without a second glance.
Getting on the bus, Charles noticed a few scattered passengers, but he chose a seat at the back where there was more space, hoping that Joseph and Karl would spot him. After a few minutes, he saw them approaching with fancy clothing. He waved, and they joined him, sitting next to his seat.
"Get a good sleep, Charles?" Joseph asked.
"Yeah, the usual dreams about the old life, about how those damn bastards left me to the bombs."
"Who?" Karl asked, surprised.
"Never mind that," Charles replied, his tone turning sharp. "How about you guys? Get a good sleep?"
"Yeah, same old. No drinks, just rested in the ol' bed at the security agency," Joseph said.
"Same here. I had a nice sleep myself, Charles," Karl added. "I had a dream about when you took us in from Vault 21 and trained us. Now we're off to listen to the president of the NCR speak. We've been so blessed by you, Charles, so we'll keep doing what we do best."
"I hope so. Just stick to the tasks at hand and skip the blessings. If you keep working, you'll be rewarded," Charles replied firmly.
"Yeah, but now I'm gonna chill here. Those Iron Gang bastards kept us up late to clean up their mess, fucking hell." Joseph grumbled.
"This is Freeside, Joseph. What the hell do you expect?" Charles replied.
"It wasn't that bad pre-war, though, right Charles?" Karl asked.
"Everything was better back then, of course, but we still knew it wasn't the cleanest place, if you get my drift."
"Yeah, alright," Karl nodded.
After that, the group mostly remained quiet though the bus was quite loud with others talking. A few minutes later, with the bus now mostly packed, it finally went off.
Once the bus went off, Charles, seated by the window, looked outside.
The conditions were harsh outside New Vegas; the unpaved roads made the bus creak as it traveled. Most of the land was barren, with only a few small subsistence farms scattered around, and Camp Golf visible in the distance.
The sight filled Charles with anger. If it hadn't been for that business trip to remind the leaders in California about the nukes, things might have been different. But when the nukes launched, they left him for dead. Those leaders were now either gone or on the run after the NCR obliterated Poseidon Oil. The only ones left were the Enclave mercs in Eureka, but they were far from New Vegas, so Charles tried not to dwell on it too much.
When they reached the 188 Trading Post, all the traders moved off the road from the bus quite slowly, as there weren't many vehicles in the Mojave, and the bus they were on was clearly marked as NCR property.
Afterward, they passed the ruins of Boulder City from the battle of Hoover Dam where the Malpais Legate made his error and finally they arrived at Hoover Dam. Karl tapped Joseph to wake him up, and, without saying a word, Joseph opened his eyes and stepped off the bus with the rest of the group.
Throughout the ride, Charles could tell people noticed the strong smell coming from him, but no one dared to look at him directly.
As he stepped off the bus at Hoover Dam, he could hear the hum of the dam's machinery, with Securitrons and NCR soldiers patrolling the area. The Securitrons, noticing Charles, briefly changed their screen to a smiling face before returning to their usual soldier display as they continued their duties.
Following the group and soldiers, Charles entered the lobby of Hoover Dam. It was packed with NCR soldiers, NCR personeel and a few visitors. The NCR receptionists were doing their best to manage the crowd, trying to admit as many people into the dam as quickly as possible, but the thorough cross-checking was slowing things down.
With three lines formed, it took about five minutes for Charles to reach the receptionist. When she saw him, she said, "Charles House, right?"
"Yeah, also, me and the other EONV members have guns, but it should be allowed for us specifically," Charles replied.
The receptionist cross-checked the terminal and then said, "Yeah, we don't need to check you guys. You three can keep moving."
With that, they walked past the metal detectors, and though it didn't beep which Charles assumed was because they deactivated it for a second to admit him and the EONV in.
The doors in the lobby were mostly marked as restricted, so Charles knew he needed to head up the stairs to reach the area where Kimball's speech would be held—up on the dam itself.
With Joseph and Karl following him, Charles went up the stairs, passing some visitors and NCR personnel seated on benches, likely taking refuge from the heat.
Once they reached the second floor, he opened the door leading out to the dam. Outside, he saw the podium where Kimball was likely to give his speech. While a few visitors and NCR personnel were present, most of the people outside were soldiers, preparing for the event and guarding the dam vigilantly.
Captain Brown seemed to be in charge with him being at the center of things, and upon noticing them, he approached with Lieutenant Cromwell by his side.
"Hey Charles, Joseph, Karl, figured you guys would be here. Out to enjoy Kimball's wonderful speech?" the Captain said in a sarcastic yet serious tone. "Not so wonderful for me, though, stuck leading these guys on guard duty. Who knows if there are any Legion spies even if the invite list is secure, but you never know."
"Yeah, we got the invite and figured, 'why not?' The Security Agency can deal with New Vegas while we're gone," replied Charles.
"Speaking of the Security Agency, you know where Theodore is?" asked the Lieutenant.
"He's with the Freeside Security Agency. He didn't get an invite. Your people said it's exclusive, so not everyone's going to be invited," Karl responded.
"Yeah, but since he helped us in Benver, I thought he'd at least get to hear Kimball's speech. But I guess that's just how the NCR is—the people on the ground suffer in silence, compensated in caps while the wealthy get the limelight," the Lieutenant said somberly.
"Lieutenant," the Captain warned.
"I wasn't talking about the EONV here. I know they're on the ground working every day. I just wish more people on the ground were recognized," the Lieutenant said apologetically.
"Don't we all, Lieutenant, don't we all," Joseph added.
"Anyways, me and the Lieutenant are going for a smoke break. Any of you want to join?" the Captain asked.
"I'll go," said Karl.
"I'll stay with Charles over here. You know how ghouls don't smoke, and we don't want the boss all alone," Joseph replied.
As they walked off, Charles turned to Joseph. "So, how have you been, Joseph? Anything going on? Relationships or anything?"
"Well, don't get pissed at me, Charles, but I've been talking to this girl in the Followers of the Apocalypse in my free time. But don't worry, she's good. She's not that upset about you killing Ortal."
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Charles asked, his tone neutral but curious.
"Well, she's with the Followers, and since you killed Ortal, I thought you'd be pissed. Plus, we're just friends—we haven't hit anything off yet. She visited me when I was injured in Benver, that's all."
"So, more like a contact?" Charles inquired.
"Yeah I get some info outta her but in terms of the relationship it's not like she's going to go for a drunk like me, we're more just friends. And in terms of your relationship with her even if she isn't upset about you killing Ortal, I'm sure there's some resentment. That's how the Mojave is—everyone's against the NCR and New Vegas, it seems."
"Just go for it, Joseph. It seems like the Mojave's going to light up like a powder keg but if you know she's loyal and you like her, go for it. There might not be enough time otherwise."
"Thanks, Charles," Joseph said, smiling.
"All right, I'm going to get some air inside. If you want to come, fine, but if not, just let them know where I am," said Charles.
"Yeah, got you. Good talk, Charles," Joseph replied.
Charles opened the door and stepped back inside Hoover Dam. Walking around for a bit, a woman approached him and asked, "You're EONV, right? Have you seen my friend anywhere? I was supposed to meet up with him here, but the NCR hasn't been any help. His name's Ben; he's another engineer like me."
"No, I'm afraid I haven't," Charles responded.
"Oh well, find me if you've got any news," the woman said before walking off.
Curious about the situation, Charles headed back outside and found Captain Brown. "Have you seen this engineer lady? She's been asking about her missing friend."
"Yeah, she's been asking everyone around here. We did find some blood in a supply closet, but no body. We checked everywhere in there, but all we found was the blood. We're keeping an eye out for anyone dressed in engineer's clothing and cross-checking with all the visitors to figure out how they got here. But we're not canceling the speech; this event is meant to give us a morale boost if the Legion dares to attack, we've gotten this far, and we can't cancel now with our soldiers not in good shape. It's a gamble, but it's one we're taking."
As Captain Brown's radio crackled to life, Charles overheard Moore's voice saying, "The president's coming. Get your men ready; the rangers will be out there soon as well."
"Got it, ma'am," Brown responded before turning to Charles and the others. "Alright, guys, the president's coming out soon. Since you're already here, you might as well head to the front."
The area outside the dam was filled with mostly soldiers, but a few visitors were scattered among them. Charles and his group moved to the front, positioning themselves near the podium where the NCR soldiers were gathered. Then the NCR rangers came out in their iconic black armor and others in standard patrol gear and formed a perimeter around the podium, keeping a watchful eye.
As they settled in, a surge of people—personnel, soldiers, and visitors—began pouring out of the dam and filling the area. Some managed to get close to the front, but as the crowd thickened, others were forced to stand behind the soldiers and early arrivals.
Minutes later, the crowd was hushed, all eyes fixed on the podium, waiting for Kimball's arrival. Charles scanned the area carefully, watching any potential sniper positions.
Despite his vigilance, he couldn't spot anything out of place. Every possible vantage point seemed well covered by the NCR, their security presence reinforcing the seriousness of the situation.
Then a few minutes later the vertibird flew up in the air where Charles assumed Kimball was arriving.
Once it landed Kimball and his entourage of Rangers were with him.
Everybody was cheering and it was quite loud with all the people there then once Kimball reached the podium and said with the microphone
"Thank you my fellow Californians and I see the EONV here also so welcome everybody. Today we are here to commemorate the fallen so let's give them a moment of silence for a second."
With a second of silence Kimball continued his speech and said
"Now I would like to commemorate all our soldiers and the ones who have fought in Nelson. And I would like to commemorate one of our troopers there Corporal Jeremy Watson please come on up."
Then a trooper who looked young came up the podium standing and Kimball continued saying
"Corporal Watson fought in Nelson seeing friends and fellow troopers being slaughtered by the Legion with the rest being crucified, when his commanding officer ordered him
to retreat he did but he was one of the only ones left alive, his CO died protecting the remaining troops that retreated."
Coughing for a second Kimball continued and then said
"Some of our citizens and soldiers alike doubt our intentions in the Mojave, why are we involving ourselves here when we have threats up north with the Anti-NCR league. We forget however that the light of liberty shines behind our borders. When at Hoover Dam in these very steps we, the NCR made a deal with Robert House. We chose not to fight a potential ally but to establish an alliance with the fine people of New Vegas to recognize the bigger threat Caesar's Legion."
"This evil empire wasn't built off the ideals carried by our founding father Aradesh but one of tyranny, to conquer everything that it saw fit to. With their attacks on Nipton and Nelson it is high time for someone to take a stand against a bully.
"Men like Jeremy Watson fought to protect our ideals at Nelson and that is why I present to him the Star of Sierra Madre."
Then giving Jeremy Watson his medal Kimball continued and said
"A few miles from the Dam stands the ruins of boulder city where so many of our valiant men fought to protect the light of liberty and when they succeeded the Malpais Legate perished by their own leader."
"This tyranny will never occur under the NCR for the people are our voice."
"The beacon of liberty shall always shine bright if you the people fight for it, now I would like to welcome on this stage the son of the Sole Proprietor of Robert House and leader of the EONV Charles Wendellheim House."
Charles was surprised but Joseph and Karl encouraged on to the stage.
Everybody got out of his way as he went around onto the stage.
Once on the stage Charles with the microphone said
"I wasn't staged to get on this stage." Charles said laughing with the audience laughing
"Anyways, so I'd like to thank President Kimball for inviting me onto this stage and to thank all the people of New Vegas, EONV, IONV and the Freeside Security Agency."
"Now when I first saw people of the NCR in person it was at this very Dam, we first thought you guys were one of the tribes but once we talked we realized you share the same values of Freedom to pursue your goals and passions."
"A little bit after I heard about you guys destroying the Enclave and I have a personal experience with them during the pre-war time 200 years ago that I haven't told many people about."
"I was sent to tell them of the impending nukes my father predicted, they agreed with our predictions that China would strike but once the nukes dropped they did nothing, just hid in their bunkers like cowards and they left me out there for dead. Now compare this to my father. He used all his tech to stop the nukes from landing in the city and while some did he tried his best, the same can't be said for the Enclave who hid like cowards."
"Now why am I telling you this? I'm saying this because while the NCR is flawed it's tried its best to protect you, the people's inalienable rights and as New Vegas lives and breathes we with the help of the NCR will wipe out the legion and preserve our sacred trust of Liberty and Freedom, thank you everybody." With Charles House leaving the stage after that and people cheering Kimball then said
"Now with NCR and New Vegas united in friendship, I have one message to you Edward Sallow, stay where you are and pray the NCR doesn't come after you, though we have enemies everywhere we are a determined people and with justice on our side we will prevail, thank you, thank you." Kimball said ending his speech and it seemed the crowd was in an uproar.
Once Kimball's vertibird left with him the crowd was still there.
Once up in the air however the Vertibird seemed to get out of control then the unthinkable happened, the Vertibird crashed in the water of the dam.