POV Rio
I had just finished showing the timeless classic that was Shrek to everyone when Agent Mason appeared and whispered in my ear.
"Sir, we have a guest who insists on speaking to you. General Preston has tried to talk in your place, but he says this is big enough that he would want you to handle it," Agent Mason reports.
"Got it, where is this guest?" I ask.
"The Castle," Agent Mason responds.
I nod and teleport to The Castle. Once I arrive, I quickly notice who is likely the guest. There was a woman and a Securitron, with the woman wearing a cowboy-like outfit. The Secuirtron, on the other hand, looked no different than the standard model. I was almost certain the woman was someone I had seen before, and it took me a few seconds to place where I had seen her.
'I think that's Cass or Cassidy or something like that.'
I approach the visitors, and they quickly notice me as the nearby Minutemen salute me. I nod to them, and before I can speak, the securitron speaks up.
"You're a very difficult man to find. I have been trying to get in contact with you for weeks now," the Securitron says.
"Mr House, I presume?" I respond.
"You are correct. And you must be Rio, the Leader of the Minutemen," Mr House replies.
"In the flesh. So what brings an old gentleman such as yourself to the East Coast?" I ask.
"I am here for many reasons. But most are now irrelevant. Now I have only one goal. I am here to make a deal. You have something I need, and I would like to purchase or trade for these things," Mr House replies.
"Follow me," I say, and we walk to a conference room where we can speak more privately. Cass didn't follow, but I didn't ask.
"Okay, spell out what you want," I bluntly speak as I sit down.
"I require robots. For defense against my neighbor," Mr House explains.
"Robots? Why would I get involved in the affairs of New Vegas and the United Empire? Not to mention, what could you possibly offer me? I have everything I could want and then some. We use gold currency, not caps. Most of your tech is already mine, or I have better versions of it. And the Hoover Dam is too far to be of any use to me, not to mention we don't lack energy," I reply.
"As I have said, I only intend to use the robots for defense. I have run the numbers. I cannont win an offensive war even if you gave me 10k robots. Conversely, a defensive battle is far more viable and is looking more and more likely as every day passes. The United Empire was born from the NCR and, as such, carries the same ridiculous grudges that failing state had. A 4th battle for the Hoover Dam has a 77% chance of occurring within the year. 98% in the next 2 years. I have a measly two thousand Securitrons at my disposal. Even if I use the approximately 6k people I have within my control, I have a 34% chance of victory should the United Empire attack," Mr House explains.
"Okay, so you'll lose. What does that have to do with me?" I ask.
"Technically. Nothing. But I have a feeling you wouldn't want innocent civilians caught in a war they have no need to be a part of. And you technically won't be involved at all. All you have to do is sell your extra robots and outdated models. With your level of tech, I am sure you have plenty of extra units you could part with. In exchange, I offer you anything you want. You want my data, my inventions, the resources of New Vegas? Name it, and you will have it," Mr House offers.
"Your negotiation technique is quite strange? Shouldn't you make up some reason or threat that would make me help you?" I ask.
"I'm a businessman, I think I am good at reading people. As such, trying to deceive you or fool you might give me short-term gains, but the long-term consequences could be too costly for me to accept. And to put it bluntly, I don't have the time to entertain a lengthy negotiation. An attack from the Empire could happen any day now. So the sooner I close this deal, the sooner I can focus on creating plans. I also know I have little I can offer you that you don't already have," Mr House explains.
"Okay, I can offer you 5600 robots all in good working condition, ready for combat and everything. In exchange, I want everything you have in your databases. Your inventions, company records, patents, programs, anything and everything. And if you try to hide something from us or conceal something? Then the deal's off. I also want exclusive rights to all resources of New Vegas. Specifically, the buildings, scrap, etc.," I offer.
"I can accept that if you exclude the rights to the Hoover Dam. I needs it energy, and the fresh water and land are needed to feed the people of New Vegas," Mr House explains.
"No problem, I only want access to the Dam. I want a team to study the dam, and we want to keep anything we find in the dam as long as it isn't a part of the dam," I explain.
"Deal," Mr House says.
"Pleasure doing business with you," I say with a smile.
"Before you go, I have heard that you have access to supernatural abilities. Is this true?" Mr House asks.
"It depends. Why do you want to know?" I ask.
"I am not a clueless fool. I have been alive since before the war. I needed to be informed of things, and the supernatural was a confirmed existence. The government even had a department to deal with such affairs. I have even been investigated by BPRD before. But back then, my knowledge wasn't extensive, and it still isn't, so I want to know if you can restore my youth?" Mr House asks.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. But I can offer you something as good. You see, I recently came into possession of a technology that can allow you to experience life with a fully functioning body. All the sensations and everything. The body can even be based on anything you want. And it's all controlled remotely. You get all the freedom without any of the downsides of revealing your physical body. And I am pretty sure I can easily have it downloaded to your preservation chamber. Would that work?" I ask.
"Indeed, that would be more than acceptable. What would be the cost?" Mr House asks.
"I want your mind," I reply.
"What?" Mr House asks.
"I will make a perfect copy of all your memories. Everything that makes up your mind will be copied. It will be a copy and, as such, will have no negative effects on you. Beyond that, I would have you sign a binding contract that prevents you from trying to reverse engineer or study the synth body double I will be giving you. This includes others doing the work for you. If you accept those terms, I can make the body for you," I explain.
Mr House doesn't immediately respond and seems lost in thought. After about a minute, he responds.
"Deal," Mr House replies.
"Great. Now, where do you want the robots?" I ask.
"Hmm, the old Nellis Air Force Base will do. After the Boomers ran out of explosives and fuel, they were wiped out, leaving the base untouched since. When can I expect their arrival?" Mr House asks.
"Tomorrow or the day after that at the latest," I reply.
"What? As in for the first shipment?" Mr House asks.
"No, the entire 5,634 robots will arrive within the next two days. The team coming to retrieve the data and copy your mind will be there later today. Expect them around 1600 or so," I reply.
"How? The sheer amount of robots and the distance I expected weeks, perhaps months before I got all of them, not days," Mr House says incredulously.
"Teleportation. We can arrive anywhere in the world in seconds as long as we know where we're going. And weight is even less of a problem. Now, was there anything else you needed, or are we done here?" I ask.
"One last thing. How should I contact you again?" Mr House asks.
"Any future business can be handled by Preston. As for communications, is this Securitron not good enough?" I ask.
"This securitron no longer belongs to me. It was gifted to Ms Cassidy. And she has made it clear that after this discussion, she will have it modified to her needs, and I will lose access to it," Mr House responds.
"Hmm, the synth body double will be equipped with a communicator. It will be handled under the same rules as the body itself. Also, will we need to transport Ms Cassidy back to New Vegas?" I ask.
"I have nothing to do with her anymore. If she wants to come back, she can, but that is up to her to resolve. Her employment contract is over, and thus she is her own," Mr House replies.
"Very well. It's been a pleasure Mr House," I reply.
"And to you as well," Mr House responds.
We go our separate ways as I head to give the needed orders to make sure we get everything out on time. I was glad to get rid of the old robots as they were being scheduled to be scrapped for parts. This saves us the effort and means they can still be useful. As for the things I asked for. They were neat and just made sure we had everything Mr House made. It also allowed us to determine if he can be used as an ally or not. I doubted he would be clean enough to work with, but who could say? The Synth Body double was also basically free for us, and in exchange, we get Mr Houses mind. Even if we kill him later, his mind and to an extent his genius doesn't die with him. As for the battle for the Hoover Dam. I couldn't care less who wins. In either case, the winner would be no real threat. Especially when we can bombard them from orbit. Not much they can do against a turbolaser from the heavens.
'I suppose I should send some agents to investigate the United Empire just in case. It doesn't hurt to be careful.'