The elevator hummed for several moments as it rose up to the penthouse. The bell chimed and the doors slid open. I was greeted by the sight of a securitron with a cartoon woman's face in its screen.

The securitron's voice was an electronic simulation of a woman's, "Hello, welcome to the penthouse Ms. Orodum. May. My name's Jane, and I'm Mr. House's number one girl. May I ask why you're dressed like that?"

I looked down at my black dress, not seeing what the problem was before I looked back at the securitron "I thought a formal gown would be appropriate when meeting Mr. House as a show of respect. Was I wrong?"

Jane gave an electric hum, "Uh huh… Anyway, Mr. House is waiting for you in the other room. I don't want to see any funny business. You got that?"

I couldn't help but smirk at the robot, "Trust me, Mr. House isn't what I look for in a man. He's all yours."

"And don't you forget it," Jane said as she moved aside to let me pass.

I chuckled to myself as I made my way down a short flight of stairs and walked into the next room. The Penthouse was immaculate, with fresh rugs, curtains, and polished floors. The wooden tables gleamed with fresh oil, the furniture looked almost brand new, and the glassware sparkled in the light. New Vegas, and the Lucky 38 were all in much better condition than they had been in the game. The wide computer station at the end of the other room was clean and polished, and the large screen that hung over it didn't have a single trace of dust on it.

The screen came to life with a static crackle and a green tinted image of Mr. House's portrait appeared on it. His voice, distorted slightly by aged speakers, rang forth, "Ms. Orodum! Thank you for accepting my invitation. And, may I say, you look absolutely stunning in that dress."

I smiled and sat down in a chair that had been brought for me. There was a small side table with a bucket of ice, a bottle of wine, and a wine glass resting next to the chair. "Thank you, Mr. House-"

"Oh, please, call me Robert, my dear," he insisted.

"Very well, Robert," I acquiesced, but did not reciprocate the permission for him to call me by first name just yet. "I should thank you as well. Allowing us into your city, giving us rooms in your casino, as well as for dinner and entertainment this evening. It's been a refreshing day."

"I'm pleased to hear that," House replied, sounding almost genuine. "I trust the suites are to your liking?"

I nodded, "They're very comfortable, thank you. Though, I doubt our comfort and entertainment is what you asked me here to speak about."

House chuckled, "Straight to business, then? Very well. The reason for my hospitality is that I am aware of your reputation, as well as the forces you command. Your scouts have been polite in their explanations, but I should let you know that we have officially partnered with the NCR, and that partnership has allowed New Vegas to thrive."

"I've noticed how well you're doing," I smiled politely. Everything is spick and span, and you seem to have a thriving economy these days. I'd wager it was the absence of Caesar's Legion that you were able to make such strides with the NCR and bring such quality goods and style back to Vegas."

"You're quite astute, Ms. Orodum," House replied. "Indeed, the vacuum left by Caesar's forces allowed the NCR to come into the area relatively unopposed except by some minor factions. Since then, they've funneled a great deal of investment towards building and refurbishing the city. We've worked together to focus our efforts on things beyond simply surviving and providing entertainment. We're thriving now. I'd rather we didn't see that prosperity interrupted or hindered by your presence."

I chuckled and folded my hands neatly in my lap, "I'm afraid my presence does tend to interrupt the daily lives of most everyone at first. However, I hope that we can come to a quick and seamless agreement so that the disruption is minimal, and primarily placed at the feet of the NCR, not the everyday people who simply want to live out their lives in peace."

"Do you expect the NCR to simply roll over and capitulate to your demands?" House asked curiously. "They are a sizable military and governing force. They will not be easily swayed to kowtow to your demands."

I nodded softly in agreement, "You're right. They are among the largest and most influential factions we've come across thus far. They're far more organized than the others, that's for sure. But like all the others, they pale in comparison to the Legion's capabilities which have only grown as we've moved from the north-east. We simply have more resources, more men, more supplies, and most importantly, a far more stable economy than they do."

There was a pause in the conversation after I mentioned the economy. House was a former CEO and used to be among the titans of industry before the Great War. A functioning economy that boasted levels beyond simple barter and trades, or trading scraps of tin for goods intrigued him and he couldn't help but grow curious.

I saw the opportunity and took it, "You see, unlike the NCR, the Legion has a gold-backed economy. We do not deal in fiat currency. In this way the Legion promotes stability in the purchasing power of the average citizen. It also means that the government cannot easily manipulate the market as was the case in the world before."

"It also means that monetary policies are less flexible," House countered. "Flexibility allows governments to more effectively deal with economic crises."

"You of all people should know that such responses only benefit the short term," I responded. "The long term effect of a fiat currency leads to government manipulation, inflation, and corruption. A fixed currency may be less flexible, but it is healthier in the long term. And the long term is what the Legion prepares for. Our current goal is to reunite the states once again, but our goals are the stars themselves. Something I believe we share in common."

"Now, how could you possibly know that?" House asked, genuinely surprised.

I chuckled, "Oh, please. A man doesn't preserve himself over the centuries without thinking about the future. And the future for mankind has always been, and will always be the stars. But we have two major hurdles preventing those goals."

"And those would be?"

"First, the NCR is the only fashion worth noting that is stopping us from fully uniting the country once again," I explained. "Second, are the Zetans. I'm not fool enough to think you don't know about them. Handling them will be key to allowing us access to space again."

House hummed skeptically, "If you're aware of the Zetans then you're likely already planning something to deal with them. Do you believe you can handle them?"

"I wouldn't be speaking to you about them if I didn't think we could," I replied. "We have our scientists working with some of their technology already. We're developing new weapons, modes of transportation, and ways to track their energy signatures. I don't want to give away everything we're preparing, but when the time comes, the Zetans will be dealt with and mankind's path to the stars will be clear."

"Your long term goals are admirable and ambitious," House mused, "but what about immediate results? What would we expect to happen if I could manage to convince the NCR to be absorbed into the Legion?"

I smiled softly, "Well, for one thing, we would phase out the use of caps for Legion currency. Beyond that small inconvenience, we would begin setting up churches and guard facilities. The churches would be there to educate children and provide medical aid or other forms of assistance to the citizens. Guard facilities would be used for the mutual defense of the area, as well as emergency response."

"We would also begin building proper housing for families, with priority given to farmers," I continued. "We will create and maintain roads, though I did that on my way her for the main road leading to New Vegas. We would also start establishing power plants, lines, and communications as well. All of this on top of rejuvenating the land itself by renewing it and making it green, instead of the desert it has always been. Meaning the area would be better for farming, as well as safer since our Trappers would begin to handle the local wildlife and bring it into a manageable state."

"And if that isn't enough," added, "you would gain access to resources from the rest of the country, as well as scientific advancements that are ready for the general public to take advantage of. You'll also have access to modern transportation, as well as safe, regularly patrolled travel routes."

"Really, there only two choices before you," I concluded. "The first is to agree to become part of the Legion, and the second is to become a footnote in history as one of the factions that opposed it."

"All of that sounds rather compelling. However, if I were less of a man, Ms. Orodum, I would say that last part sounded awfully close to a threat," House said with a hint of suspicion. "I'm quite sure that's not what you intended."

"Then perhaps I misspoke," I replied calmly. "I'm offering you two simple choices. You can either work with me to help the Legion reunite our country and give the people in this area a better life while we reach for the stars, or we can march over your grave and the graves of thousands of NCR soldiers to achieve that goal. Is that clear enough for you?"

House's temperament broke as he lashed out, "You think to threaten me while you enjoy the comforts of my casino? I could have you and your few soldiers captured and killed here and now. Even your deathclaw would go down to enough firepower. Then what would your Legion do without its leaders?"

"It would grow angry," I replied calmly. "It would acknowledge who was left in the chain of command, take a few hours to organize, then they would flatten this city and grind the rest of the NCR's territory to dust all because of a rash decision made by you to kill a handful of people. I simply lead the Legion, Robert, but the Legion's goals are already set in place, as is its mission of rejuvenating the land, providing roads and emergency services for the people it governs, governors in place to handle the needs of the people in their area… Killing me would be like assassinating the President of the United States. All it would do is motivate the rest of the population to take revenge and carry on."

House considered my answer for several moments before reluctantly agreeing, "I suppose you have a point. But I must ask you how I would benefit from being absorbed into the Legion more so than the NCR. I realize my people would be better off, but I've heard nothing considering my own well being."

"The man atop the gleaming spire asks what's in it for him when he already lives better than most everyone on this continent," I scoffed. My smile grew to be more conniving, "I expected no less."

"You make it sound as if I should shut my mouth and be thankful for the bounty offered to the common people," House said with a chuckle. "That's not how I operate."
"I understand completely," I nodded. "That's why I came with two benefits specifically for you."

"Well," House said conspiratorially, "if you're ready to offer the common people such magnanimous gifts such as homes and power, I can only imagine what wonders you have in store for me. Please, do tell."

I adjusted my posture to sit a bit straighter, "First, I am willing to make you governor of the area. It retains similar powers as governors of the old world did, though with more autonomy, so long as you act within the Legion's laws."

"This is a benefit I already enjoy under the NCR," House replied.

"And it's on you can continue to enjoy instead of being replaced," I clarified. "I do not have to choose you as Governor, Robert. I can always appoint someone else. Please don't test the limits of my generosity with such responses."

House seemed to think better of his reply this time, and after a pause he replied, "My apologies, Miss Orodum. I… hadn't considered that. Please continue."

"The second thing I can offer you is something the NCR simply can't," I continued as if nothing had happened. "I'm willing to offer you a brand new mechanical body, completely indistinguishable from a flesh and blood body, where your brain can reside safely. You'll have all of your senses, you'll be mobile, and you'll look like your old self once again instead of the California raisin of a near-corpse that's being preserved inside this machine."

"This is something your people are capable of?" House asked in disbelief.

I gave a happy nod, "Indeed it is. Think of it as a completely synthetic body with your brain being the one thing in charge. By all accounts, you'll be functionally immortal so long as you get regular maintenance on your body done."

"I can be a part of the wider world again," House gasped as he imagined walking around and interacting with other people again after centuries of isolation. "But at what cost?"

"None," I assured him. "Apart from loyalty to the Legion and working to further the Legion's goals. In fact, the body is already prepared. I thought this might be a valuable bargaining tool so I took the opportunity of looking for your picture in magazines and factories so that we could get the face and hair right. The body should be the right height as well. I took the liberty of directing my scientists to give you a fit build as well."
"When can it be brought here?" he asked eagerly, his desire for the body evident in his tone.

"It's on my command ship, the Prydwen, as we speak," I replied cheerfully. "I can have it brought here as soon as you and I come to terms about joining the Legion, and that you will aid me in convincing the NCR to peacefully join the Legion as well."

"You certainly know how to play on a man's desires, Ms. Orodum," House sighed as he considered my offer.

I knew that he was talking about the mechanical body, but the subtext about his role in the Legion and the outfit I chose to wear were clear as well.

I smiled knowingly, "Please, call me Merida." This return of the familiar address at this point in the conversation would endear House to me and open up an avenue for us to become mutual admirers of each other's tactics when it came to controlling and manipulating others.

"Well, Merida, I should like to say that we have an accord," House announced happily. "However, I have two caveats."

I cocked my head to the side curiously, "Oh? And what might that be?"

"I will agree to allow Vegas to be incorporated into the Legion with the understanding that I will be named Governor," House said. "And I will assist you in bringing the NCR into the Legion peaceably, but I would like to wait to make the announcement until after I've been transferred into the new body."

I chuckled and offered him an approving smirk, "I'm guessing you would like to reveal the new body as part of the announcement? You want to add a little bit of showmanship to the event?"

"It wouldn't be Vegas if there wasn't some showmanship," House chuckled.

I tittered and nodded, "I concur. And the second caveat?"

"You tell me why the bugs in your suite aren't working, but they are working everywhere else in the casino," House insisted slyly.

I chuckled confidently. I had noticed the microphones and small cameras right away and had released bursts of nuclear energy to destroy the signals coming from the bugs in the rooms Meirune and I were staying in. I'd left all the others alone because I didn't want to irritate House too much.

"A lady likes her privacy," I replied cheekily.

"Indeed?" House asked as if he didn't quite accept the answer. "It has nothing to do with the deathclaw sharing the suite with you?"

I arched a brow, "What do you mean? Why would Meirune have anything to do with me wanting privacy."'

"I've known many a powerful individual in my time, Merida," House explained. "And not one of them has been without their… extreme proclivities. I simply thought you might have destroyed the recording equipment to prevent anyone from witnessing any indulgence of said proclivities."

I stared at the monitor with House's face on it quietly, silently entertaining the idea of melting the entire life sustaining mechanism with him inside right then and there. I allowed the intrusive thought to play out in my head a few times over as I tried to ignore the implication House was making about Meirune and myself.

"A separate bed was made for Meirune while we were still settling into the suite," I answered calmly. "We did that so that he could have his own bed to sleep in."

"I'm very well aware of that," House countered. "However, that does not preclude any interactions outside of the resting. In fact, before you came to the penthouse you spent a half hour alone in the room with-"

"I don't appreciate the insinuation, Robert," I cut him off. "Meirune is a dear friend, and I'm sharing the suite with him so that he can be more comfortable in a city full of humans who will see him as a monster. That is all. I believe we've addressed your second caveat. So, do we have a deal?"

"Indeed!" House replied gladly. "Now, with that settled, I insist that you stay a while and talk with me about the rest of the country. Tell me of your adventures, about the people, about life outside of this hotel."

I settled back in my chair, "I'd be happy to. Why don't you send for some refreshments? This will be a long night."

I spent the next few hours conversing with House about all manner of subjects. We talked about the world before the Great War, our philosophies of governance, how I came to lead the Legion, and about all the people we'd met on our way down from the Commonwealth. It was wonderful to talk to someone who'd been alive back before the war and get his perspective on how things had gone out of control so that we could plan to avoid the same mistakes of the past. We discussed the future and how we could prepare for it. We went over our strategies to convince the NCR to join the Legion, and what methods we could implement apart from warfare to make the transition happen.

By the time it was time for me to go back to my suite, we'd spoken into the quiet hours of the morning. I walked back into the suite and looked at Meirune who was sleeping soundly in his large bed. I shook my head at the memory of House's insinuations. I wouldn't wake up till early in the afternoon the next day.