New Vegas: Sheason's Story

Chapter 64: Rest

You know, I once tried to test my Charisma on a Vit-O-Matic Vigor Tester machine once. The machine burst into flames. Got lots of classics coming at you over the airwaves later this afternoon - Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and the first lady of song herself, Ella Fitzgerald. But right now, I'm in the mood for some of The Ink Spots. "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie," only on Radio New Vegas.

By the time I crawled my way from the depths of that glorified anthill and opened the door to the outside, it was getting close to dusk. The sky was still mostly blue, and there was still plenty of light left, but I could see just a few faint splotches of red and orange color in the sky - signs that it was much, much later than I thought it was. As soon as my eyes adjusted to the outside light, I just stood outside the door, blinking up at the sky for a few seconds.

"Huh... I didn't think I'd been down there that long..." I said aloud. No one was around to really hear me. At least...

I heard a funny little beeping noise from behind me. I turned around in time to see ED-E float down from wherever he was hiding.

"Oh, hey ED-E," I said with a wave; I looked up at my hand, and frowned. Despite my best efforts, I was still covered in that gooey ant crap. I shook my head and tried to push it out of my mind. "So, what'd I miss? Anything interesting happen while I was playing king of the mole-rats?"

As if in response, ED-E floated right in front of my face, and he let out a weird sounding series of low frequency beeps. Hang on, I felt like I'd heard that before... And that's when he started speaking - except it wasn't the voice of Whitley, like before. It was still a man's voice, but I didn't recognize it.

"Uh... Hello?" The voice crackled and popped - like it was a transmission full of interference. "Hi. Are you there?" The voice paused, but before I could respond: "Oh, right. I can't hear you. Listen, I'm using your robot as a relay to get this message to you. I've picked up some unusual chatter regarding your robot. It seems that it has some information we could use." There was a burst of static from the transmission. "Oh, wait, where are my manners? My name is Lorenzo, a Knight with the Brotherhood of Steel. We'd be very interested in examining your tech. Whenever you get a chance, could you bring your robot to Hidden Valley so I can take a look at it?" There was a pop, another burst of static, and then... silence.

ED-E let out a few disgruntled beeps, and shook back and forth in midair - it put me in mind of someone shaking his head after a sharp blow to the skull.

"ED-E? You alright?" I asked the floating robot. It sounded like he was going to beep out something else - but then he let out that same series of weird sounding low frequency beeps again. The voice coming out of the speaker grill this time, however, was that of a woman. The transmission was no less full of static than before, though.

"Hi, sorry to break in like this. He sounded truly riveting." Whoever this female voice belonged to, she seemed... I don't know, almost annoyed. But who with? "I don't want to keep you much longer, but I'd like to make a counter suggestion. My name is April Martimer, I'm with the Followers of the Apocalypse. We're much more liberal about the sharing of technology than those Brotherhood... people. Bring your robot to us, and we'll see that whatever information it may have on it is used for the greater good." And then the transmission cut out with a pop.

"Hmm..." I regarded ED-E carefully. He shook himself again, like before, and the disgruntled beeps sounded even more indignant. ED-E hovered in the air for a few seconds, expectantly... and then when another set of voices didn't come, he seemed to relax. At least... as far as a floating metal ball can relax.

"Seriously, you alright, ED-E?" I asked. ED-E looked at me (at least... I think he did. It's hard to tell when something doesn't have eyes), and bobbed off to the side, letting out a trio of beeps, followed by a pair of internal electronic clicks. If nothing else, he seemed fine now, at least. But this... transmission, whatever it was from these two, was worrying. It meant that ED-E had some kind of electronic back-door built into his systems. That could be trouble - especially if someone hacked into him to do more than use him as a flying radio...

I'd have to remind myself to ask Veronica and Arcade if they knew either of these people who had contacted me... see if either of them were trustworthy. And to find out exactly what they might want ED-E for.

"Don't worry, little buddy," I said to the eyebot. "I'm not going to turn you over to anyone just because they asked nice. I'll figure out what just happened."

At that point, my thoughts were interrupted by another voice - but not from ED-E this time.

"What the fuck is that smell?" A familiar female voice sounded off from around the other side of the concrete bunker. I followed the sound of the voice, and sure enough, there was Raquel with her nose in the air and a disgusted expression on her face. She was leaning against the side of her parked Willys Jeep.

"Hey," I said, trying to catch her attention. "It's me, Sheason - er, the outsider. That smell is probably me."

"Outsider?" Raquel looked at me with a confused expression. "What are - OH GOD!" Immediately, she covered her nose and mouth. "Oh, that is VILE! That smell is you?!"

"Oh, c'mon. It's not that bad..." I said, scratching the back of my head nervously; I pulled my hand away, and shook it when I realized it was covered in gunk. "Alright, maybe it is."

"What... what happened down there, Outsider?" It seemed like she was having a difficult time thinking with the smell in the air.

"Well, the long and short of it is that I killed all the ants. They didn't explode when hit with bullets." I smiled broadly, despite the gunk. "Everything down there should be fine. Apart from the tunnels the ants dug through the concrete." Raquel took her hand away from her face, and looked at me curiously.

"That... that certainly explains why the power came back on, about half an hour ago," Raquel shook her head and smiled to herself. "Maybe Mother Pearl is right about you, Outsider. I have no idea how you pulled that off."

"You can thank Loyal's sonic device for that. It worked like a charm... and is the main reason I'm covered in liquefied giant ant queen." Raquel actually laughed.

"Well, good. I'll get Loyal to send a team down to clear out the eggs and repair the generators. And I'll make sure they don't have any energy weapons or flamethrowers this time... just in case. Good work. And... thanks," Raquel paused for a minute, then added: "Sheason."

"Thanks for calling me Sheason instead of outsider," I said with a smile. "Actually, there was a bit of business I wanted to discuss with you, before you go. Got time?"

"Uh..." She looked me up and down, and the part of her face not covered with burns grimaced badly. "Sure, hang on," Raquel reached into the nearby parked Jeep, and after a few seconds of rummaging around, pulled out a respirator which she promptly put on her face. "Alright, go ahead."

Part of me wanted to be insulted. But, to be honest... I thought it was pretty funny.

"Before my team and I went down there, I talked with Raul," when she looked at me with a blank expression, I elaborated. "The ghoul mechanic who was hitting on you earlier. He said he knows how he can fix the solar panels, but he's gonna need spares. I think I know where I can get a few, but if you want me to come back with them before the end of the month, I'm gonna need some transport."

"And your car is broken," Raquel nodded. She seemed to think about it for a minute. "Alright. I think I can pull some strings with the quartermaster, and get you temporary access to a single vehicle from the motorpool. When do you need it?"

"Will tomorrow morning work?" I asked. "I'm kind of... well... I've had enough fun for one day."

"I'll bet," Raquel said, with a muffled laugh from behind the respirator. "Speaking of that, Mother Pearl wanted me to deliver a message to you."

"Oh?" I asked.

"Pearl has arranged for you and your companions to be set up with lodgings while you help us on the homeland. It's not much - a few rooms on the ground floor of the old Airman dormitories. But they're air conditioned, and the beds are soft."

"Well, thanks. Er, tell Mother Pearl I said thanks, at least. Sounds like a nice setup," And saves me the trouble of asking, I thought. "Just, one question."

"Yes?"

"Do they have showers?"

It was definitely getting darker by the time I got to the hospital. I'd washed all that gunk off me, and cleaned all the guns - especially Cass' shotgun - as best I could before heading out. Amazingly, it dissolved surprisingly easy when it came in contact with water, and drying my clothes didn't take quite as long as I was expecting, but... despite my best efforts, I'm still fairly certain that I was surrounded by a bit of an odor.

"Guess it's a good thing robots don't have noses, huh?" I asked ED-E as he hovered beside me. He started beeping in a way that put me in mind of someone laughing.

On my way over to the hospital, a strange music filled the air. It was a single bugle trumpeting out a simple enough sounding tune. At first I thought I was hearing things, but then I realized - no, I was actually hearing a bugle call being piped through the speakers. It didn't last long, and there weren't any other instruments accompanying it... but I was sure I'd heard some kind of bugle call.

Unless it was just another sign I was going crazy.

"I'm not going crazy. Am I going crazy, you think?" I asked aloud, turning to ED-E. The floating eyebot just hummed noncommittally.

"Gee, thanks for the support."

The lobby of the Boomers medical station wasn't quite as empty as I remembered it. Boone and Raul had commandeered a table and a pair of sofas, and were playing some kind of card game. Didn't look like Caravan, though. Boone's helmet was taking up a seat on the couch opposite him, and he was back to wearing his beret and sunglasses (despite being inside). Veronica was on the other side of the room, pacing. As soon as I walked through the doors, she perked up and made her way over to me.

"There you are!" She said, putting on a smile to try and hide her worried expression. "You were taking so long, I was actually starting to get worried." About me, she didn't need to say. I could tell that she was already worried enough about Cass.

"Eh, you should know by now. I'm not so easy to kill," I said with a smirk... but then my expression faded. "So, any news? Is Cass going to be alright?"

"I... I think so," Veronica tried to force a smile. "I mean, we came here as fast as possible. And, she's in good hands. Arcade knows what he's doing, and with Doc Argyll, they should..." Veronica crossed her arms across her chest and turned away from me - towards the door that led deeper into the hospital.

"Don't worry," I said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "She'll be fine. Cass is tough, and way too stubborn to die from a measly little knock on the head."

"Yeah... yeah, I know." Veronica was quiet for a long time. "Actually, I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?" I asked. "What for?"

"Rushing in to save her like you did. I mean... when we saved you from the Legion, Cass was the one who really convinced us to get moving. I mean, ED-E coming back helped, but we wouldn't have gotten there as fast if not for Cass. She said that if any one of us was in trouble, you wouldn't hesitate to come after us to help."

"And she's right - but like I told her the other night, you guys don't seem to get into the same kind of trouble that I do. So I don't get the chance to test it out as often," I said, clearing my throat. "Besides: if I recall, you rushed off to get help when I got teleported to the Sierra Madre."

"Yeah, well... I suppose I never really believed it until I saw you leap in after her. Not really. There was just... no fear. No hesitation. You saw her fall, and you leapt in after her without question." Veronica looked back at me with a smile. "So, just... thanks."

"Don't thank me," I said, trying to wave it off. "I was stupid enough to go charging into that glorified anthill without any plan of getting back out again. You were smart enough to bring a rope."

"Still..." Veronica shrugged. "It's nice to know you'll have our back if we get in trouble."

"It's nice to know you'll have mine."

I hoped that my smiling face wasn't betraying the emotions I really felt. The guilt was practically suffocating. Yeah, it's true that I'd probably try and help any of my friends if they got into trouble, just because it would be the right thing to do, but... I jumped in after Cass so quickly because...

"Uh... Veronica?" As soon as the words escaped my mouth, my brain seized up. The guilt was overwhelming, sure, but... was now really the best time to tell her about... I mean... Cass might not - no. No, no, no. Don't think about that. That way lies madness.

"Yeah?" She turned to look at me curiously. "What's up?"

"I... uh..." I tried to keep my expression composed. I was having a devil of a time trying to keep myself from looking guilty. Was I really going to tell her now with everything else going on? Hell, how would I even phrase it?

"Any've you fuckers got anythin' t'drink?" A familiar voice echoed out, interrupting me mid-thought. Veronica and I looked over to the door that led deeper into the hospital. Cass was leaning against the doorframe, hat in hand, and a bandage wrapped around the top of her head.

And then, just like that, I was given a momentary reprieve. I don't know who this friend of mine is that's been giving me all this help from on high lately, but he's got to be either God or the moon.

"Cass!" Veronica rushed over to her and practically tackled her in a hug. "You're okay!"

"OOF!" Cass looked like she'd gotten the wind knocked out of her, and then some. I couldn't blame her - I knew firsthand what one of Veronica's bear hugs felt like. Especially if she'd gotten a running start like that. "Yeah, yeah, m'okay! Jus'... let go've me! I... can't breathe!"

"Oh!" Veronica dropped Cass almost immediately. "Sorry! Sorry! I'm just so glad you're okay!"

"C'mon Veronica," Arcade appeared in the doorway behind Cass. "You know she's tougher than that."

"I'm fine, s'just a small bump on th' back've my head an' a few cuts'n bruises, nothin' serious."

"Here," Boone offered up a bottle of whiskey, that he pulled from... actually, I don't know where he pulled it from. I think I'd only ever seen him drink once...

"Oh, shit! I's just kiddin' 'bout th' drink, man, thanks!"

"Hey Cass," I said, trying my best to disguise my enthusiasm. "Glad you're back on your feet."

"Pfft," Cass waved it off and gulped down some of that whiskey. "Don't gimmie that, I know you've had a lot worse. Hell, I'm jus' surprised y'aint ribbin' me 'bout it yet. I mean, I got taken out by an ant." Cass said with a smirk.

"In your defense Cass, it was a pretty big ant. And an even bigger sinkhole." I said, smirking right back at her.

"If you ask me, I'm astounded she's up and walking around. I didn't expect her to be conscious so soon," Doc Argyll appeared behind Arcade, and slapped the blonde doctor on the shoulder. "I'll say this, it's a good job Arcade was around. It's like you said, he sure knows his stuff. Turns out, there's a lot I can learn from outsider medicine."

"So, I take it there's good news from the other three patients as well?" I asked. Cass gave me a nod and wandered off, over toward the card game that Boone and Raul had resumed.

"Yes indeed," Arcade nodded. "It was touch-and-go for one of them, but I think all three of them should pull through."

"Well, good. That'll add to the good news then!" I said with a nod.

"Add, Boss?" I heard Raul ask from the other side of the room.

"Yep. See, strange as it may sound, I've got good news, and then I've got more good news."

A heavy and awkward pause hung in the air.

"Are you feeling alright?" Arcade said eventually, breaking the silence. "You never have good news."

"Hah. Hah." I deadpanned. "I'm serious."

"Alright then, Flash," Veronica said, sitting on the back of a nearby seat. "What's the news?"

"Mother Pearl arranged for us to get some rooms, so we all have a place to stay the night. I've already been around that way to check them out," and clean the ant crap off me. "They're pretty nice. Small. I mean, it's not the Lucky 38, but..."

"I'm still trying to get used to not sleeping on a bedroll," Veronica said, shaking her head. "So, anything with a real mattress is a step up."

"Eh, it's not like I sleep anyway, Boss." Raul chimed in, setting down his hand. "There we go! Gin!"

"We're playing poker..." Boone shook his head and sighed.

"Wait, y'don't sleep?" Cass asked. Raul shook his head.

"Nah. Well..." he paused, looking thoughtful for a minute. "I can, and I do sometimes, but I don't need it."

"So, what's the other piece of news?" Arcade asked, trying to ignore the ghoul.

"I'm gonna get to that. But first," I turned to Veronica. "V? You said before that Helios One is a solar power plant, right? Didn't you and the Brotherhood used to live there, before the NCR arrived?"

"Yeah?" Veronica looked at me curiously; I couldn't tell if she didn't know where I was going with this, or if she knew and just didn't want to believe it. "I mean, Elijah always said there was more to it than just the solar power station, but... I mean... nevermind." She shook it off. "Why?"

"You wouldn't happen to know where we could scrounge up some spare parts for solar panels inside Helios, would you?" I asked. Based on her expression... yeah. There was no doubt in my mind that was the 'I don't want to believe he's seriously suggesting this plan' face.

"I... might. But I think there's a bit of a hitch to that plan," Veronica said nervously. "How would we even get inside? The NCR is using it as a base. I don't think they'll let us in if we just ask nicely."

I turned my attention to Boone - but before I got a chance to voice my idea, I was interrupted by Arcade.

"I actually might be able to help with that." Arcade seemed nervous and suspicious at the same time. It was actually impressive how he managed to pull off both expressions at once. "But there's another issue. How far away from Helios One are we right now? 30 miles? 35?"

"Closer to 40, if my Pip Boy is to be believed," I said, looking down at the screen and pulling up the map.

"Exactly. That's not exactly a leisurely stroll, especially since we'd be carrying who knows how many spare parts with us on the return leg. And, may I remind you - your car is still a wreck. This could take days. And that's if we're extremely lucky and don't run into any trouble, which... let's face it, Sheason, that's an impossibility with you around. You're a walking bullshit magnet. No offense."

"None taken. But days? That, you see, is where you're wrong," I said, switching off the map on my Pip Boy. "Because that brings me to my second piece of good news: I got Raquel to lend me a car. One of those old Willys Jeeps. She said I could pick it up from the motorpool tomorrow morning." Cass just shook her head and laughed.

"I bet he sweet-talked her out've it," Cass said to Raul with a smirk.

"He probably told her the burns on her face really bring out the highlights her eyes," Raul said with an approving nod. Cass... didn't look convinced.

"Uh... call it a hunch, but I'm pretty sure he didn't..." Cass seemed to contemplate that thought, and downed the rest of the bottle of whiskey.

"Why not? It's what I would've done." I couldn't tell if Raul was serious or not.

"So, a courtesy car, huh?" Arcade asked, stroking his chin. "Did she mention anything about your car? Anything at all?"

"Huh? Uh... no. No, I don't think so," I said, confused.

"Hmmm... " Arcade looked deep in thought. "Interesting that she wouldn't... either way." Arcade shook his head several times. "It's been a very long day, full of lifesaving, and frankly... I think I've used up my allotted goodwill towards most other human beings for today. Where are these apartments you were telling us about?"

"I don't think 'apartment' is really the right word..."

The first hour or so after showing everyone to their rooms, I wandered around Nellis. We'd spent so much time trying to get things done that I hadn't really taken the time to look around. Despite that, I eventually found myself on the roof of the same building I'd left, and... for as clean and orderly as the rest of the base had been, the roof was a bit of a surprise.

Up there, I found several tables, two dozen lawn chairs, a few umbrellas by the tables, and several long extinguished tiki torches. It looked like someone had held a party up here and forgotten to clean up after.

Works for me.

And that's where I'd been since finding the place - lounging on one of the deck chairs with a case of beer I'd managed to scrounge up from somewhere, just staring up at the night sky. How long had I been sitting up here? I'm not really sure. I hadn't really been paying attention to the time, and I couldn't be bothered to look at the clock on my Pip Boy. I was too busy just looking up.

It was a clear, cloudless night, and the stars shone overhead like a million tiny pinpricks. I could barely see the moon - it wasn't quite a new moon, but it was close enough. We were far enough away from Vegas and there were hardly any lights on anywhere in Nellis, so... it seemed to make all the stars shine that much brighter.

It was nice - the peace. Getting the chance to relax. Knock back a few cold ones (well... lukewarm, anyway) and stare up into infinity. There was a small voice in the back of my brain, trying to convince me that something was wrong - that tiny little niggle of paranoia, trying to convince me that no place in the wasteland is this peaceful.

I set down my empty beer bottle next to the other five, and reached into my pocket, pulling out the packet of smokes.

"Damn," I muttered, staring into the packet. Only one left. Eh. Might as well. I pulled the last cigarette out with my mouth, and sat up, looking around. I half expected somebody to try and talk to me while I was up here, but... nope. Still all alone. And, for the moment, that suited me just fine.

I went back to staring up at the sky, thin wisps of smoke swirling in the air above me, and thought about this morning, when Victor had thrown me out of bed. As bad as it had started, and as dangerous as it had been at various points, today... I dunno. Today had been a good day. Made contact with the Boomers and found out that, despite the welcoming committee of artillery fire, they were actually quite nice people. And with any luck, I'll be able to get them on my side...

Eventually, exhaustion overtook me. Or maybe I just didn't want to move. After I finished off my last smoke, and polished off the last of the beer, I drifted off to sleep underneath a curtain of stars.