Charles slowly opened his eyes, finding himself in a hospital bed amidst a chaotic scene. The air was heavy with the metallic scent of blood, and the sounds of pain and distress filled the room.
A doctor approached, introducing himself as Dr. Mitchell. "Oh hello," he said, "Name's Dr. Mitchell. We folk over here know who you are, the hero of Benver. Our town was subjugated under the rule of those iron gang bastards until you came along. Anyway, onto the matter of your health. You seem fine; your leg sustained injuries. The bullet was deep in your leg, but we took it out. Your leg was tougher to open up than any in my career as a doctor. Anyway, got any questions?"
Charles knew the quip about his leg being tougher was due to his implants which gave him tougher skin, bone and also protected him from turning feral but he didn't dare say that and instead said
"You got my stuff?" Charles inquired, his tone strong.
"Yeah, we'll give it back once you're ready to get out of here."
"Yeah, I'll be moving my ass out of here now."
Charles got out of the hospital bed, but before leaving, he asked one more question.
"Also almost forgot to ask you this, doc, but how long was I out?"
"To my knowledge, it would probably be around, let's say, two days."
"Ok then, thanks for the info," Charles said with an artificial smile.
While walking, Charles simmered with thoughts of what he had missed and felt a growing anger.
Approaching the receptionist, he announced, "Hey, you know I'm EONV. Got my stuff."
"Yeah, yeah, we know who you are, the hero of Benver. Okay, let me get your stuff," said the receptionist in a playful tone.
Once he retrieved his guns, Pip-Boy, Hat, leather Jacket and armor plate, Charles thanked them and left.
Surprised by the sight of NCR soldiers outside, he quickly contacted House on his Pip-Boy.
"Is it you, son?" said House.
"Yeah, fucking hell. Bullet must have hit me real hard. Anyways, I see a bunch of NCR troops in this town. Why is that?"
"Yeah, we made a deal with them, see. Turns out their lead scientist for Helios was a liar and can't do shit, so we did this. Iris was given access to the systems and hacked the turrets guarding the mainframe that would be able to give the NCR power. So then, after the turrets were disabled, NCR engineers fixed up the mainframe, and Helios One is now active, giving power to McCarran and the Strip. And since Iris helped them, of course, NCR troops were sent to outer Freeside to help us reinforce the area," explained House.
"Yeah, ok thanks for the info dad damn I'm hungry i'm gonna get a meal."
"Yeah that's fine, also I'm gonna have a securitron send a letter to you and you need to sign it, you'll know what it is when you read it." said House
"Got it, also I'll be eating at the wrangler so send the securitron there." said Charles
Turning off the pip boy, Charles walked to exit the town of Benver.
Charles could feel the people staring at him, probably thoughts of the ghoul who saved their town.
Not a word was said to him while he was walking until Walter came up to him with a woman who looked to be his wife due to being in the same age range.
"Charles you're alive, how about that, Joseph was in that same hospital with you how is he?"
"Yeah if he was in that hospital I didn't see him had to rush out of there, damn I need a meal. Anyways, you know where Karl is?"
"He's probably just doing patrols like all these other NCR troops that came here, it's good that there are more NCR around outer freeside, it's gonna make the situation here more safe."
"Yeah outer freeside needs change to happen, anyways who is this lucky lady with you?"
"Oh yeah, that's my wife Ethel we were just around the area when we happened to stumble on you walking."
With a smile Ethel said
"It's good to meet the hero of Benver, you know Walt told me how courageous you are but seeing you in person is even better because I know without your courage there would only be destruction.
"Thank you madam."
Then looking to Walter he said
"Lucky man you are Walter."
"Thanks, anyways you should probably be hungry now so we'll leave you alone but before you go I have been hearing people not giving you heed because your a ghoul but don't pay them mind, your a hero in everyone else's book, the minority is usually the loudest but they don't represent our opinions."
With a nod Charles then went on his way.
Almost reaching the end of the gates a group of people walked up to him
The leader of the group with his straight dark hair said
"Huh so you're the muttie everybody is talking about Benver, but frankly I don't see a difference between you and the iron gang, you both take our caps and control this town but at least the Iron Gang weren't 2 faced hypocrites but you are."
"Sure whatever you say pal, look don't get up in my face ever again or you'll get lead on your face but if i'm feeling nice then I will call the NCR troops to get you."
"See the hypocrisy, anyways i'm not a mean guy I'll let you muttie go before you turn feral on us but it's time you heard the voice of the people and not the cowards."
With a scowl etched across his face, Charles delivered his words in a firm, unwavering tone. "You're not worth my time," he declared before striding away from the town of Benver, leaving behind the group, once he reached the gates the securitrons acknowledged his departure with a change in their screen image.
Beyond the town gates, the securitrons were administering justice, executing those whom Charles presumed to be collaborators with the Iron Gang regime. Thinking about the town, he estimated there were likely three to five troops stationed in Benver. He couldn't help but feel a pang of pride towards New Vegas, as Helios One provided power not only to McCarran but also to the Strip, while House reaped the benefits of extra NCR troops to secure Freeside and the power diverted to the strip.
Making his way towards inner Freeside, Charles sought respite at the Atomic Wrangler, craving a meal to soothe his hunger. Despite the chaos still reigning outside of Benver, with its throngs of rabble and thieves, Charles still felt a sense of victory. As the hero of Benver and the nemesis of the Iron Gang, but he knew there was more work to do, the iron gang isn't defeated and more gangs would come for him and New Vegas, but he would always be standing as the stalwart defender of New Vegas, for the only family he has now is father Robert House and his wife Iris House.
With all these troubled thoughts it made him even more hungry so he tried to push them down and walked faster to the wrangler.
Then he reached the unofficial border of inner and outer freeside. The Atomic Wrangler in inner freeside and The King gang's base of Operation called the Pressley School of impersonation in outer freeside.
Charles thought the gang mostly harmless, they were in the border of inner freeside and outer freeside and only cared about Elvis Pressley's legacy but he was still wary of them.
Securitrons patrolled the border of inner freeside with the platinum chip changing their screen from a policeman to a soldier.
He then walked and entered the Atomic Wrangler casino.
It was similar to the casinos in the strip though not as well refined.
But Charles liked it for it was cheap and had decent food like the Brahmin Steak and even though the casinos in the strip had better food, it was more cheap and he wanted to preserve New Vegas wealth and not to lavish himself in the strip's luxuries for he knew what that led to only ruin.
Once he entered the Wrangler, one of the owners, James Garret, greeted him with a smile and said, "Hey Charles, you want the usual, Brahmin steak and water?"
"You know it. Are Francine and Ron here?"
"Sis is busy with the business, and Ron is doing his performance. Here, let me get you to your regular table, Charles, and once Ron's done with his comedy, I'll send him your way for a meal."
Once he walked over to his table, he saw Ron, the ghoul, doing his comedy performance.
He waited for Ron to finish his performance, and once he announced to the few in the crowd that the show was concluded, he walked to and opened the door to Charles' exclusive room and said, "Charles, damn, when was the last time we had a meal?"
"Ages ago, it seems. I've been too busy with work."
"Yeah, I understand. I'm happy that my favorite commie is adamantly protecting New Vegas from the rabble."
"Man, when was the last time you made that joke, at my wedding?"
"Yeah, a long time ago, Charles. It was funny; your dad and Iris were giving me those weird looks."
"Yeah, oh and don't worry, my feelings are still the same about that joke back at that wedding, it's fine. My Chinese parents may have been friends with House and vehemently anti-communist, but I never knew them. So yeah, dad was quite pissed back then, and he probably still is. I mean, that's why he kicked you out of the Strip, but don't take it personally." said Charls
"Yeah, it's done and over. Don't worry."
Then James came into the room and brought the food and drinks out on the table and said in an excited tone, "Here's your food, gents."
While eating their food, Ron said, "Anyways, how's your day been, Charles? Mine's been boring, just performance. Anyways, after this meal, I think I'm gonna sleep; it's getting dark."
"Yeah, anyways, my day... I guess word doesn't travel far, but I was injured in a fight for one of those Iron Gang towns."
"Hmm, those savages. Well, did you win?"
"Yup, don't worry about me, just some of my boys were killed and another was roughed up bad, but they should recover."
Then, once they were about to finish their meal, a Securitron, who Charles assumed to be Iris because her face was on the screen, said, "Ron, could you get out of here? I've got business with my husband."
"Yeah, I got it."
Ron got his meal and then left, and Iris said, "Still hanging out with that fucking guy. I might not agree with your father much, Charles, but he made the right call after our wedding."
"That was 200 years ago, and come on, it's his job to make jokes."
"People never change, love. Anyways, I didn't come here to argue about this asshole you call a friend. I have the documents your dad told you to sign."
With that, the Securitron of Iris gave Charles the document.
When Charles read it, the words stated:
"The people of New Vegas have had enough of the savages who steal and take from the people outside our very gates. They disobey our leader, Robert Edwin House's rule, who saved the Mojave. These ungrateful savages must be dealt with. That is why, under the command of our leader, Robert Edwin House, we have made a deal with the NCR to help us pacify Outer Freeside, to bring the underdeveloped and lower privileged to the light. For House and New Vegas!"
He saw the signatures of Karl, House, and Iris at the bottom, and then Charles said, "You've got a pen, love."
"Yeah, here."
Then Charles signed it and said, "And you'll print this around New Vegas?"
"Yeah, also we'll have Mr. New Vegas announce it, to you know really put fear in these people"
"Okay, and yeah, one more question: how did you get Karl's signature?"
"Oh, him. He's just patrolling Outer Vegas; he's pretty easy to find."
"Okay, nice. And if that's it, I guess I'll follow you back to the Lucky 38, Iris. I need some rest."
"Even after all that time you were out, okay, fine. I'm just glad you're alive, Charles. I love you."