Welcome to New Vegas

Old Mormon Fort…

Marcus placed the satchel containing the four thousand caps on the table. All eight of his companions stood around said table, and Cass let out a whistle. "Hot damn that's a haul!"

Marcus nodded. "Unfortunately, it's only enough for two of us to get into the Strip." He let out a sigh. "Which means the rest of you will have to stay here while Sarah and I go in to find Benny."

"I really think that's a bad idea." Boone said.

Marcus was taken aback. "Why's that?"

"It's not wise to go to the Strip without someone who's been there before."

Cass agreed. "He's right. That place is known for devouring newcomers like yourselves. Plus, you have no idea how to get around that place."

Sarah crossed her arms in annoyance. "So what do you suggest?"

"I should be the one to go with Six." The cowgirl said.

Sarah's eyes narrowed. "Why you?"

"Well for starters I've been there more than anybody."

Boone nodded. "She's right. I was only there once on my honeymoon."

"And," Cass continued, "a couple will draw less attention than two arm merchs."

Though Sarah maintained her demeanor, she did not like the use of the word couple. Still, the soldier in her knew it was a good strategy. "She's right." Sarah grumbled.

Marcus agreed. "Then it's settled. Cass and I will find Benny, get the chip and get out of there."

"We will stay here and wait for you." Follows-Chalk said.

"Make sure you bring back plenty of pictures of the pretty lights, Jimmy." Lily chimed in.

Marcus smirked. "I'll try to remember."

"I can only stay for another thirty-six hours." Veronica said. "After that I must head back to Hidden Valley."

"If we're not back in thirty-six hours," Marcus began, "there'll be no point in waiting here."

Sarah turned and looked him dead in the eye. "If you're not back by then, then wall or no wall, I'm coming in after you."

Marcus decided to leave his rifle and grenade launcher with Sarah, while Cass left her shotgun with Boone. While sidearms were permitted inside New Vegas, anything else would draw too much attention. Plus, the casinos wouldn't allow any weapons inside. Marcus hoped that no one would figure out his PIPBOY gauntlet was a weapon.

When the gate was finally opened, the sites and sounds were unlike anything Marcus had ever seen. The streets were clean and free of debris and trash. Neon lights turned night into day. Everywhere people of all kinds were bustling about laughing and having a good time. As they walked past the casino Gomorrah, several scantily clad prostitutes (females, males, even a couple of ghouls), were enticing people to come inside.

"Hey." Cass called to him. "You better close your mouth before a cazador flies in it."

Her comment only momentarily brought Marcus out of his trance. "This place is amazing! I've only seen a place like this in old movies."

"Yeah…but don't be fooled. Underneath all this glamor is a town that stinks like a whore house at low tide."

As they continued to walk the Strip, Marcus was finally knocked out of his stupor by the sight of the Tops Casino. And inside was the man he'd been tracking halfway through the Mojave.

"There it is." Cass said. "So…how do you want to play this?"

"As cool as possible. Let them take our sidearms…hopefully we can bluff them to let me keep the gauntlet. Then we'll get a few drinks, mingle and try to find out where Benny is."

Cass let out a sigh. "Doesn't sound like much fun but…okay."

As he was about to head towards the door, Cass stopped him and locked her arm with his. "Remember…we'll be less suspicious if we're a couple." She could see the panic in his eyes. "Relax, boy scout, we're not cheating."

Marcus took a deep breath and the two of them proceeded inside. Just as they'd hoped, the doorman named Swank took all of their sidearms but didn't even ask about the gauntlet. Nor did the chairmen notice the knife Cass had hidden in her boot.

They headed into the main casino floor. Along both sides was a row of slot machines. In the center, down a couple of steps were several blackjack, craps and roulette tables. The place was crowded with gamblers, and Marcus and Cass, still arm and arm, slowly made their way through them.

Marcus once again was in awe at the scene. The only casino in the wasteland to even come close to this was Dukov's Place…and even that was a slum compared to this.

They made their way over to a roulette table in the middle, right of the room. Both of them started to place bets, trying to blend in. By the third time, Marcus was up two-hundred caps.

"Damn, I should bring you here more often." Cass quipped.

Marcus smirked. "Don't get too excited. My luck has a habit of running out in these places."

No sooner had Marcus said that, he noticed something in the corner of his eye. Or rather, who. Six chairman had made their way into the center of the casino pit, and the crowd of gamblers parted like the Red Sea before them. And standing in the middle of them, was a man in a checkered suit.

Benny stopped for a moment and scanned the floor. The place was hoping, as always, indicating another good night for the Tops. His eyes fell on the center roulette table…and he froze. Time seemed to stand still as Benny studied the cowboy's face - a face that seemed eerily familiar. Then, as if he'd been hit was a bullet…he remembered. "What in the goddamn!"

Benny's eyes went wide, and Marcus knew he'd been recognized as the Courier.

"Oh shit." He blurted out.

Cass heard him and looked up…spotting what had caused his outburst.

Without a word being said, Benny reached into his coat, pulled out his pistol and opened fire.

Marcus grabbed Cass and pushed her down behind the roulette table. Bedlam broke out as people began screaming and running in all directions. A few unlucky souls were struck by the gunfire and dropped like flies. Benny emptied his gun into the table, while the other Chairman drew their guns and stared at him dumbfounded.

"Kill that fucking Courier!" Benny shouted, and then he took off running towards the elevators in the back of the casino.

Marcus popped up and managed to get three shots off with his gauntlet, turning three of the Chairman to ash. The other chairmen fell back to find cover. Swank and another of the chairmen came rushing in from the main lobby. Cass drew her knife from her boot and threw it. The chairman screamed as the blade penetrated his chest, and he slumped to the ground. Marcus turned and fired on Swank, but the gangster had already fled back into the lobby. Cass dove towards the chairman she had just dispatched, scooped up his grease gun, and quickly made her way back to Marcus.

"So much for playing it cool!" She said as she cocked the gun.

Marcus rolled his eyes. "Okay, guess we'll have to go with plan B…kill'em all!"

Cass gripped the grease gun and prepared herself. "Sounds good."

By now the three remaining chairmen tried to out flank them. Two on the right, one on the left. Marcus blasted the two on the right, while Cass peppered the third with her submachine gun. More chairmen arrived on the elevators and rushed onto the casino floor.

Marcus stood up, activated his VATS and locked in three targets. Before Cass could add her fire, all three targets were taken out.

"Goddamn!" Cass muttered before opening fire, wounding another of the gangsters.

"Don't shoot!" A voice from the lobby shouted. "Don't shoot! We surrender!"

"Bullshit!" Cass yelled and was about to open fire again, but Marcus stopped her. "Wait! Prove it! Lay down your weapons and slide them over here!"

One by one they could hear the sound of guns hitting the floor from both directions and were slid towards them. Swank slowly walked out of the lobby with his hands up. "Let's keep this in the grove, hey? Smooth moves, like smooth little babies. We don't know what kind of beef you have with Benny, but we're not gonna die for it."

Marcus regarded him with more than suspicion. "Smart man. Where is he?"

"He took the only working elevator up to the suites. There's a few guys up there who will still fight for him…but something tells me that's no skin off your teeth."

Marcus stared at the faces of the defeated chairmen. If there was any fight left in them, he couldn't see it. "Alright…my friend here will stay and keep you honest."

Cass made sure to get the point across by pointing her grease gun directly at Swank. "And if this is a trick…you get it first, pretty boy."

Swank swallowed hard. "It's all cool, baby. Cool as ice."

After picking up one of the grease guns, Marcus headed into the elevator. As the doors closed he took a deep breath. He wasn't sure what was waiting for him once the doors opened. Either way, he would be ready.

Benny shot out of the elevator as if it was on fire. As his three bodyguards came into the hallway, he quickly straightened his jacket and tried to look presentable.

"What's goin on, boss?" One of them asked.

"Just stay by the elevator. Anyone other than a chairman is in it, you waste them, understand?"

The bodyguards nodded and pulled out their pistols. Benny continued down the hallway towards his suite, and locked himself inside.

The three bodyguards heard the sound of the elevator coming back up and readied their weapons. The grips on their pistols tightened with each passing moment, until finally they heard the ding and the doors opened.

No one was inside. The chairmen looked at each other dumbfounded, and one of them carefully stepped inside, gun at the ready. He soon lowered his gun, turned around, and gave a bewildered shrug to his colleagues.

The blue beam came straight down on his head, turning the man to ash in the blink of an eye. Marcus came crashing through the roof of the elevator and fired a burst from his grease gun, killing the final two guards.

"Talk to me, Moira."

Moira's avatar appeared on the PIPBOY's screen. "The only movement I'm detecting is behind those double doors up ahead."

Marcus reloaded his machine gun and made his way towards the doors. He took a deep breath, and with one kick they flew open. The main room had its own bar, two sofas and a fireplace.

Benny was sitting at the end of said bar, preparing two glasses of brandy. Marcus made sure to keep his cowboy hat slightly down over his brow. So far his disguise was working, but he didn't want to take any chances.

Benny took a sip of his brandy; clearly trying to calm his nerves. "If you're gonna kill me…get it over with. If not," he slid the other glass down the bar towards Marcus, "let's say we have a drink and chat."

Marcus just stood there. Benny quickly swallowed the rest of his drink, his hands shaking. "I guess you had brains to spare. Or a thick skull. I know you're upset…hell I would be too if I were you. But if it makes you feel any better, I haven't slept a night since. I thought I killed you."

Marcus nearly burst out laughing. "I have no time for bullshit. You have something of mine. Where is it?"

Benny slowly reached inside his jacket with his right hand and removed the platinum chip. "It's funny how something so small can cause such a stir."

"What's so important about it?" Marcus asked.

Benny looked at the chip with envious eyes. "Why…it's the stuff that dreams are made of, kid."

Benny flicked the chip towards Marcus with his thumb. He used the momentary distraction to run into the suit's bedroom and lock the door behind him.

Marcus blasted the lock with his gauntlet and forced his way inside…and was standing in front of a securitron with a smiling face on its screen.

"Hi. Benny told me to kill you, so goodbye, I guess."

The robot's right arm shot up, and Marcus turned and dove back into the main room. A couple of 9mm rounds bounced off his shield, saving his life. Marcus made his way behind the bar, and he could hear the securitron rolling into the room. 9mm rounds began peppering the bar, and Marcus held his breath as he waited for his chance. The robot's machine gun was in danger of overheating and the firing stopped. Marcus popped up, activated his VATS and locked onto the robot's arms. He fired two blasts from his gauntlet, turning both of them to slag.

"Well now," the securitron began, "looks like I won't be killing you today."

"Where is Benny?!"

"He's probably hiding in the secret room behind his bedroom. No doubt he's preparing an ambush."

Marcus was taken aback by how nonchalantly the robot gave up the information. "Stay here and don't move or I'll melt you down."

"No problem, buddy."

Marcus made his way into the bedroom, and soon found its back door. He slowly opened it, and spotted the large hole in the wall a few feet ahead. Inside this hidden room, cornered like a rat, was Benny. With his hands shaking he opened fire with his pistol, hoping for a lucky shot. Marcus squeezed the trigger of his grease gun and cut the leader of the chairmen down.

Marcus took a deep breath, lowered his gun and looked around the room he was in. It was filled with several pieces of electronic equipment he did not recognize. "Moira, any ideas on what this equipment is?"

"Ahhhhh…I'm not sure…but I bet that very talkative securitron does."

Marcus made his way back into the main room where the securitron was still standing in the same place. "Well hello there! I'm guessing that you killed Benny back there."

"That's right. And unless you want to lose any more of your parts, you'll answer my questions."

"No problem, friend. I couldn't not answer your questions even if I wanted to. Which I don't because of my programming."

"For starters, who are you?"

"I'm a PDQ-88b securitron, but you can call me Yes Man."

Marcus' left eyebrow went up. "I'm guessing that name has to do with your…personality?"

"I'm programmed to answer any questions, but Benny never bothered to specify I could only answer his."

"Well that's a silly thing to do." Moira said.

"You're telling me." Yes Man said.

"So what is your primary programming?" asked Marcus.

"I'm programmed to monitor and decrypt all of Mr. House's transmissions. That's how I knew about the platinum chip, and how there were seven couriers sent, but only one had the real chip. I could never find out which courier, but I knew where all of them were for Benny to track down."

Marcus pulled the platinum chip out of his pocket and held it up. "Yes Man, what exactly does this chip do, and why did Benny want it so badly?"

"From the information I gathered, it contains programming that will allow Mr. House to upgrade his defenses somehow. That's just a guess, though. The chip's a proprietary format; you'd need special hardware to read the data on it. There are only two locations where you can do that: the Lucky 38, and a secret bunker under Fornication Hill."

"The Lucky 38? You mean that casino we saw as soon as we walked through the gate?"

"Oh that's not just a casino! It's the main control hub of New Vegas, and the residence of Mr. House himself. No one else has set foot in there in two-hundred years."

"What was Benny's plan for this?"

"Oh, he wanted to kill Mr. House and use the platinum chip to copy my neuro-computational matrix onto the Lucky 38's mainframe."

"That would've given Benny control over all of the city's defenses - including his securitrons." Moira chimed in.

"Exactly! Then I'd just do what Benny tells me - easy peasy!"

Marcus looked at the chip in amazement. "So you're telling me with this chip, and the right equipment, a man could take over all of New Vegas?"

"That's right! You'd just have to figure out how to get into the Lucky 38 and eliminate Mr. House. Unfortunately, Benny never told me how he was going to do that."

Marcus once again examined the chip. It all finally made sense. House wanted this chip to upgrade his defenses…which would allow him to take on the NCR and the Legion. And Benny was planning to use it to take House's place as ruler of the city.

"So I guess now you could take over New Vegas!" Yes Man said.

Marcus's eyes shot open, as the ramifications of that statement sunk in. He felt a sense of shock…then, for a moment, the idea was - intriguing. With New Vegas under his control, he could help save what was left of the Brotherhood, defeat the Legion, and make peace with the NCR. Everything he ever wanted…was right here in his hands…

"Absolute power, corrupts absolutely!"

Those words spoken by this father suddenly came rushing to the forefront of his mind. "No." he whispered. "I didn't come here to take over a city." He closed the chip into the palm of his hand. "But it doesn't hurt to have an ace up your sleeves. Moira, can you program Yes Man to answer only to me?"

"Wellll, since he was programmed by an amateur gangster….I should be able to do that."

"Oh, goody!" Yes Man said. "That would make things so much easier!"

"Alright. When Moira finishes with your reprogramming, I want you to stay in that hidden room and do not come out unless I call for you. Understand?"

"Yes sir, no problem!"

When Marcus returned to the casino floor of The Tops, Cass was calmly watching over the chairmen with a gun in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Marcus approached Swank and held up Benny's pistol. "It's done. I've got no beef with any of you."

Swank and the others seemed to relax. "Well, we're glad to hear that, daddy'o. Thing is you've left us in a bit of a pickle. The chairman have no leader."

Marcus shrugged. "Guess you'll have to figure that out on your own."

Swank shook his head. "You don't get it. You killed Benny in single combat. That means you're now the big enchilada."

Cass' face beamed. 'Well hell ya, free drinks!"

Marcus looked around at the chairmen…and the casino he apparently now owned. His throat suddenly went dry as the implications began to sink in. Trying to compose himself, he quickly wiped the sweat from his brow. "Well, I don't know the first thing about running a casino. So I think you…"

"Ah, Swank's the name, boss."

"Right, Swank. I'm putting you in charge for now. After we get this place cleaned up, run it like you always have. I've got business with House."

"Speak of the devil." One of the chairman said.

They turned and spotted a very familiar securitron making its way inside over to Marcus. "Well howdy, partner! Looks like you took care of business here. If you'll follow me, we'll mosey on over to the Lucky 38. The boss man wants to see you."

The chairmen began to murmur among themselves. Cass came over and slapped Marcus on the shoulder. "Well bend me over and slap me silly, the Lucky 38! No ones been in there for over a century."

"I'm sorry, little lady." Victor said. "But you'll have to wait here. Boss only wants to see him."

Cass' smile quickly turned to a scow. "Fine. I'll stay here and count the stock."

Marcus rolled his eyes. "Try not to drink the place dry on the first day, Cass."

"No promises."

It was clear to Marcus that the Lucky 38 had not been occupied for some time. The eerie silence reminded him of an abandoned Vault. As he rode the elevator to the Penthouse, he took a deep breath in anticipation of this meeting. He stared down at the platinum chip, contemplating what he would do. He wondered if giving it to House was the right thing, especially if it did what Yes Man said. Still, it was the only way to gain House's trust…which may be crucial to their mission here.

Moira on the other hand, was about to jump out of the PIPBOY. "Oh, I can't believe we're about to meet the Mr. Edwin House! Oh, I wish I had time to get my hair ready!"

"You look fine, Moira. Just remember, we're still undercover so don't let anything slip out, okay?"

"Okay, I promise, I promise!"

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Several securitrons were standing guard in the main lobby of the Penthouse. One of them lead Marcus through a doorway covered by an old, musty curtain. What he saw was not what he expected. A massive computer terminal, with an equally massive screen was against the main wall of the room. On the screen was a still picture of a distinguished looking gentleman with a mustache and slick, black hair.

Moira was practically hyperventilating. "That's him! That's Mr. House!" she squealed.

"Calm down!" Marcus whispered.

He slowly approached the screen, and when he was close enough, a voice began to speak.

"This meeting has been a long time coming, hasn't it? You've come a long ways, literally and I suspect, figuratively as well. I have to ask - now that you've reached your destination, what do you make of what you see?"

Marcus thought about his answer, and decided on the truth mixed with a little flattery. "I've never seen anything like it!"

"Of course you haven't. Vegas always was one of a kind. What you see down on the Strip is just a fraction of the city's former glory, and yet…more than an echo. I preserved its spirit."

"I…appreciate the VIP treatment but…why me? I'm just a courier."

"Oh, don't be coy. You've been playing a high-stakes game ever since Victor dug you out of the ground. Don't be afraid to admit it."

Marcus relaxed a bit. It seemed for now, he had fooled Mr. House. He was about to respond when Moira's avatar appeared…unable to contain herself any longer. "Mr. House. Yes…hello, down here! I don't mean to interrupt but I'm a huge fan of your work!"

There was a pause before Mr. House responded. "Now what do we have here?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Moira. Former inventor and now AI companion. Well…since I died, that is."

Marcus put his face in the palm of his other hand.

"Fascinating!" Mr. House said. "I too, used similar technology to program several of my securitrons. While immortality has its rewards, the drawback is everyone close to you eventually dies. You, young man, are just full of surprises."

"Is that how you've stayed alive all this time?" Marcus asked.

"Don't be fooled by what you see. I am made of flesh and blood…but we're not here to talk about that, are we?"

"No. So let's get down to business."

"I see you have recovered the platinum chip. Let's have it."

A small slot on the computer terminal opened. Marcus carefully approached, took one last look at the chip, and slid it inside.

"Such a small thing, isn't it? And yet so…capacious. So very dear."

Marcus swallowed hard. "So what happens now?"

"A great deal shall be happening - a cascade of events, with you taking a central role."

"Me? Why do you need me?"

"To secure the future of New Vegas, I must have your assistance. The work ahead is dangerous, but you weather danger well."

'Well at least he trusts me.' Marcus thought. Time to see just what Mr. House had in mind. "What are your plans for New Vegas?"

House seemed to pause for a moment before answering. "I've resurrected Vegas, spirit intact. What I need now is the ability to enforce my rightful claim. Not just against Caesar's Legion, by the way. In fact, the NCR is a more present and insidious threat."

That last part took Marcus by surprise, but he managed to hide it. "How do you plan on doing that?"

"To enforce, one must have force - a position of strength. Years ago when I detected NCR scouts roaming the Mojave, I could tell from their uniforms that these were no mere tribesmen.

"I knew it was only a matter of time before an army appeared, to take control of the dam. And I knew my securitrons wouldn't be enough to oppose them. And so I recruited the Three Families. Vegas belongs to me because I mustered enough strength to bring the NCR to the bargaining table."

Marcus found himself intrigued. "Still, even with the Three Families, the NCR could've taken Vegas."

"You are correct - and they still can…but not without suffering tremendous losses…losses they would have gladly accepted to control Vegas and the dam. They weren't afraid of me, they were afraid of Caesar. Kimbell and Oliver knew attacking me would leave them vulnerable to a Legion offensive.

"And so they negotiated. Not out of the kindness of their hearts, as they tried to make it seem, but because the calculus of power left no other choice."

Marcus couldn't help but be impressed by House's political maneuvering. "And that's how you got the NCR to sign the treaty. Pretty smart."

"Thank you, though the treaty doesn't only keep the peace, the provision that the NCR do nothing to prevent its soldiers and civilians from visiting the Strip has allowed me to use their occupation as the engine of my growing economy."

The last part alarmed Marcus. The NCR was funding House's war machine - a machine he could use against them. "Would you go to war against the NCR?"

"The salient issue is that they will go to war with me, if given the chance. There's just one reason why the NCR hasn't contrived some outrage to justify invading the Strip…Caesar's Legion.

"The final battle between those two armies is fast approaching. I can't afford to let either side win…at least not on their terms."

This all but confirmed what Lenny had told them back at the Capital. House was going to let the NCR and Legion destroy themselves…leaving him the ruler of the region. "That's an interesting plan. Once you keep control of New Vegas, then what?"

"New Vegas is more than a city - it's the remedy to mankind's derailment. The city's economy is a blast furnace in which can be forged the steel of a new rail line, running straight to a new horizon.

"With all the money pouring in from the NCR? Give me twenty years, and I'll reignite the technology development sectors. Fifty years and I'll have people in orbit. One-hundred years, and my colony ships will be heading for the stars. The first stop would be the abandoned United Nations Martian Colony, and then a search for other planets unpolluted by the wrath and folly of a by-gone generation."

Marcus had to contain a smirk at House's mention of the abandoned Martian colony. While House's grand plans intrigued Marcus, there was one detail bothering him. "So in the meantime…you'd rule as a dictator?"

"I prefer the term autocrat. I would rule as a chief executive. I would not answer to a board of directors or any other entity. Nothing to impede progress. If you want to see the fate of democracies, look out the windows."

Marcus was silent. While on one hand, House sounded no different than any other would-be tyrant he had encountered, but on the other hand his arguments seemed - sound.

"Ah," an excited Mr. House said. ",I have just been told the first of my securitrons have been upgraded. If you will head down to the basement, you will see the fruits of your efforts."

Marcus made his way back to the elevator, and was soon taken down to the basement level. Marcus found himself standing above what looked like a large energy field, and observed three securitrons. But he soon realized that these were - different. The video of the police officer on their screens had been replaced with that of a soldier.

"I suppose you're familiar with my securitrons." Mr. House's voice boomed into the room. "Their mark 1 programming allows them to operate the 9mm submachine gun and gatling laser."

The securitrons opened fire with these weapons, peppering the targets in front of them.

"What you probably did not know, is that these are the securitrons secondary weapons. Now, with the platinum chip, they may use the mark 2 upgrade. Observe."

Marcus watched as something sprung from the left chassis of the robots, and each one fired a missile, obliterating the targets.

"The M235 missile launcher allows the securitrons to engage targets at much longer ranges."

Another compartment on the right side of the robots opened up.

"And a rapid fire G28 grenade launcher ensures that the securitron is deadly at close range engagements. And now, let me show you the upgrade I am most proud of."

A door to the right of the demonstration area opened. Another robot, the most frightening Marcus had ever seen, walked inside. It was more humanoid than any he had ever seen. Its movements were not as stiff as a protectron. Its armor was a military, drab green color, and it had one red eye in the middle of its head.

"Behold the Assaultron! It is the most advanced combat robot ever constructed. Observe its quick movements and combat power."

The Assaultron suddenly sprinted to the other end of the arena, and with its four fingered claws crushed two non-functioning protectrons, and threw them aside as though they were tin cans.

"And its main laser cannon can destroy any enemy at long range."

The assaultron turned and a steady red laser shot out of its eye. Marcus watched in both amazement and horror as it melted through a concrete block, then a half inch thick steel plate.

"Magnificent, isn't it?" Mr. House asked, his voice dripping with pride.

Though Marcus nodded his head in agreement, inside he was thinking: 'My God, what have I done?'

After the demonstration, Mr. House had rewarded Marcus with the use of the Lucky 38's Presidential Suite - which also meant the rest of his companions could stay there as well. Once all of them, including Arcade who said he wasn't going to pass up the chance to see the Lucky 38, stepped out of the crowded elevator, their jaws dropped. The suite had five rooms. A large bathroom with several tubs and toilets. A large 'guest' room with several double beds. A game room/lounge that even had a play area for Dogmeat. A large kitchen and dining room, along with a couple of work benches. Finally in the center of all this was the master bedroom, with a desk, several wardrobes and a king size bed.

Cass dropped her bag and ran into the master bedroom. "I call dibs!" She leaped onto the bed with a loud yahoo.

Follows-Chalk hadn't blinked since he arrived. "The entire Dead Horses tribe could live here."

Veronica turned on the water to one of the tubs and let it flow over her hand. "Beats living in a hole in the ground."

Boone threw his bag onto one of the beds. "This puts the hotel room in Vault 21 my wife and I stayed in to shame."

Lily suddenly gave Marcus a tight hug. "Oh Jimmy, it was so nice of you to get this hotel for our vacation."

When she finally let go, Marcus caught his breath. "You're welcome, grandma." He and Sarah walked into the master bedroom, where Cass was still lounging on the bed. Sarah crossed her arms and cleared her throat.

Cass looked at them, then let out a defeated sigh. "Fine." She got off the bed and headed for the guest room. "You better not hog the sheets, Boone."

Even though he was still wearing his sunglasses, there was no doubt his eyes were bulging out of his head.

Marcus still couldn't believe that he was standing in this room. "I've never seen anything like this. Not just this room…but the whole city!"

Though Sarah was impressed, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. "Well…maybe it's the Brotherhood Sentinel in me, but I'm worried. This kind of technology in the hands of one man - or whatever House is…scares me."

Marcus let out a sigh. "I know. Those assaultrons." He shook his head. "If he has an army of them…I don't think anyone could stop him."

Before Sarah could respond, Arcade came up behind them and placed his hand on Marcus' shoulder. "Thank you for bringing me here to see this. But if you don't mind, there's something I'd like to discuss with you outside."

"What's wrong with talking here?" Marcus asked.

Arcade walked over to a small table in the master bedroom, and began poking around in the flowers in a vase. Soon he removed a small black ball with an antenna sticking out of it. Marcus and Sarah's eyes bugged out, but before they could say anything, Arcade placed his finger to his lips. "Because I'd like to check out more of the Strip."

It took Marcus a moment to understand, and he nodded. "Sure thing. Let's go."

By now everyone crowded inside to see what Arcade was holding. He handed it to Veronica, and both he and Marcus headed into the elevator.

Everyone stared at the bug, and were wondering the same thing: how many other surveillance devices were in the rooms?

"Well," Cass began, "so much for walking around in my underwear."

Marcus and Arcade exited the Lucky 38, and once they were across the street they began to speak. "How'd you know about the bug?"

Arcade smirked. "Let's just say medicine is not the only thing I'm proficient in. Besides, a man like House doesn't trust anyone so it's safe to assume he's got bugs and cameras in every room." He reached inside his lab coat and pulled out a small memory stick. "Seeing the inside of the Lucky 38 wasn't my only reason for coming. The Followers would like for us, well you…to place this into one of the terminals in the casino. It will interface with your PIPBOY, and you'll be able to download his files."

Marcus nearly stopped walking. "Why would you want to hack into House's network?"

"Because out here knowledge is power. While House uses his tech to run his playground and build an army, we want to use it to help people. Make advances in medicine…and maybe find out what's been keeping him alive for two-hundred years."

Marcus took the memory stick and stared at it. "What makes you think I can even get into his network?"

"Oh, I think you and your AI friend could figure it out. And if not…well, it doesn't hurt to try."

"Well it might if he catches us."

Arcade shrugged. "Maybe, but based on what you told me, he needs you right now. Besides, a man like him would be more suspicious if you didn't try something like this."

Marcus pondered what he'd been saying. "Alright." He placed the stick in his pocket and the two of them walked past the Ultra Lux Casino. "So which side of the war are the Followers on?"

"Well officially the Followers are neutral. Un-officially, there isn't one of us who doesn't hope that the winner is not the Legion."

"That is unfortunate."

The voice came from behind, and they both spun around, ready to draw their weapons.

A man wearing a suite and tie raised both of his hands. "Do not shoot, Courier. I come in peace…and with a message from the great Caesar."

Marcus still had his hand on his side arm. "I'm listening."

The messenger slowly approached. "The great Caesar has extended an invitation to speak with him at Fornication Hill. He has granted you safe passage, and temporary pardon for your crimes against the Legion; including the murder of Vulpes Inculta." He slowly reached into his blazer and pulled out a rolled up paper. "This paper bares his seal. With this you will be able to pass through Legion territory."

Marcus took the parchment and studied it. "Tell Caesar…I thank him for his invitation…and look forward to speaking with him."

The messenger nodded and left.

Both Marcus and Arcade stared at the parchment. "You're not considering taking him up on it, are you?"

Marcus thought for a moment. "Well…being able to walk in and out of Legion territory could come in handy."

Just then, he heard Sarah speaking in his ear piece. "Marcus, do you copy?"

"I read you, and you're never gonna guess what just happened."

"Well neither are you. A securitron just delivered a message from the NCR embassy here on the Strip. The ambassador himself would like to speak to you at quote, 'your earliest convenience'."

Both Marcus and Arcade stared at each other in shock. "Well," Arcade began, "you've certainly become the popular one."

A million thoughts were racing around in Marcus' mind. In one day he's met Mr. House, been invited to an audience with Caesar, and now the higher ups in the NCR want to talk to him. He handed the parchment to Arcade. "Could you please bring this to the Lucky 38? Probably not a good idea to bring it into the NCR embassy."

Arcade took it. "I couldn't agree more."

"When I return, Moira and I will get to work on one of the terminals."

Once he got past the NCR military police, Marcus was led to the ambassador's office by his secretary. When he entered, the ambassador was talking with a gray haired Ranger with a deep voice.

"...understand there are rules, but it was those Crimson Caravan boys who started it."

"Chief Hanlon, you know it doesn't matter who started it. Anyone caught fighting on the Strip is subject to arrest, period."

"Then why are my Rangers still being held, and those cowboys were let out after one day?"

As the conversation continued, Marcus took a look around the office, and his eyes fell on a set of pictures on the wall. The first was of the current NCR President Kimball. Next to him was a picture of the previous two presidents, then one of a man with black hair and a scar down his right cheek. Marcus read the name on the bottom of the frame - President Maximillian Lincoln.

Marcus' eyes shot open. Here was an actual picture of his grandfather. As he studied it, he could see the resemblance to his father, James. Next to that picture was of an elderly woman, and Marcus' heart nearly skipped a beat. It was President Tandi, his great-grandmother.

Marcus stood there and was overwhelmed with awe and pride. He had never known what his ancestors looked like, but now here they were. He wondered if there were any historical pictures of his great-grandfather, the Vault Dweller Thomas Lincoln.

His attention was once again on the conversation happening in the room, and it sounded like it was coming to an end.

"I promise you chief, I will get the Rangers out of the lock up as soon as possible. Now is there anything else?"

The Chief was far from satisfied, but it was the best he was going to get. "No ambassador. Thank you." He turned and walked towards the door. He and Marcus passed each other and locked eyes for a moment. Marcus continued to approach the ambassador's desk, but Hanlon stopped and turned around.

"Ah." the ambassador stood up and presented his hand. "You must be Six. Glad to finally meet you. I'm ambassador Crocker."

The two men shook hands.

"Thank you for the invitation, ambassador."

Crocker looked over Marcus' shoulder, and noticed the Chief standing frozen in the doorway staring at them. "Is…there something else, Chief?"

Marcus turned slightly and the two men locked eyes again. Hanlon was a gruff man, with a beard and more than a few lines on his face. Marcus thought the man was probably close to retirement.

Hanlon seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in. "Ah…ah no. Good afternoon, ambassador." He turned and made a hasty exit.

"Please, sit down." Crocker said as he returned to his seat. "I must say your reputation precedes you…which is why I have requested to speak to you. As you can imagine, the NCR has its hands full in this region. So at times I have to contract assignments to…privateers like yourself. If you agree to assist us, in addition to your compensation, which will be considerable, you will be pardoned for any crimes you may have committed against the NCR."

Marcus had to hide the excitement building inside of him. He was hoping for a chance to get into the NCR's good graces, and now here it was. "What do you need me to do?"

Crocker smiled, picked up a file and opened it. "Are you familiar with a gang called the Fiends?"

"I've heard of them."

"They've been giving us a considerable amount of trouble just outside of New Vegas." He handed Marcus a picture. "This is their leader, calls himself Motor Runner. Unfortunately, there's no way to get to him. He never leaves their headquarters in Vault 3."

That got Marcus' attention. "A Vault?"

Crocker nodded. "Yes. From what we're told the residents were naive enough to invite the Fiends in and were slaughtered for their trouble. Now while we can't get to Motor Runner, we recently received intel on the whereabouts of his three lieutenants." Crocker handed him three more pictures. Two men and one woman. "Cook-Cook, Driver Nephi and Violet. The worst of the worst. They killed…and traumatized many of our troopers. Cutting off these three heads will not only cripple the Fiends, but boost the morale of our troops."

"Where do I start?"

"Go to camp McCarren and talk to Major Dhartri. He commands Alpha Team of First Recon. He's offered to pay the bounties himself since these Fiends killed twenty of his men. They'll be able to assist you in this."

Marcus' eyes shot open when he realized Crocker was talking about Boone's old unit. He stared at the pictures of these evil individuals. "I'll head out right away."

Crocker smiled and the two men stood up and shook hands again. "You're doing a great service for the NCR. After this, come back and see me. I'll have more assignments for you."

Marcus turned and left. As he walked out of the embassy, he didn't notice the eyes of Chief Hanlon trained on him from across the courtyard.

"Hey Sam." He called to his aid. "What do you know about that character?"

Sam, a thirty year old career Ranger, observed Marcus heading towards the main gate. "That's the Courier that helped liberate Nelson. Word is, he actually made it inside the Lucky 38."

Hanlon watched as Marcus walked through the gate and onto the Strip. "Have our boys at Ranger Intel find out everything they can about him. And keep it in house. Don't go tell'n the NCR boys…though they probably got their spies trailing him, too."

Sam was puzzled. "Well okay Chief but, is there a particular reason?"

Hanlon shrugged. "It's probably nothing but…it's just a feel'n I have."

"Well…your gut's never been wrong before, Chief. I'll get on it."

"Thank you, Sam."

Author's note: I know, three updates in one year! I'm getting better with them, as I promised. I know there were no Assaultrons in New Vegas, but in my humble opinion they should've been. Chances are I won't update until the beginning of the New Year, so until then have a great holiday season!