The engine roared to life as Raul took his position behind the controls. Rebecca climbed onto the War Bus with the rest of the crew following behind, the heavy door sliding shut behind them with a satisfying hiss. Six stood beside Rebecca, looking out over the ruins, the horizon now marked by the distant glow of flames and smoldering metal.
Rebecca leaned against Six, her arms crossed as she watched the aftermath unfold through the reinforced windows. The distant fires cast eerie shadows across the Mojave, illuminating the destruction they had left in their wake.
Boone, silent as ever, sat near the front, his rifle resting across his lap. He had done his part, picking off any Fiends who tried to escape. Roger leaned back, his arms behind his head, letting out a low whistle.
"Well..."
He mused.
"That's one less problem for McCarran to deal with. But you know this ain't over, right? The NCR's gonna want a say in what happens next."
Six nodded.
"They can have their say. That doesn't mean I'll listen."
Raul let out a dry chuckle from the driver's seat.
"Heh. So what's the plan, boss? We just waltz into McCarran and tell 'em we're their new neighbors?"
Rebecca smirked, nudging Six with her elbow.
"More like we tell them they're lucky we took care of their problem for them. But yeah, I get what you're saying. They won't be thrilled about us holding the Vault."
Six turned from the window, his expression unreadable.
"We're not just holding it. We're integrating it. Vault 3 is a prime location—defensible, stocked with supplies, and now under our control. The NCR can either work with us or stay out of our way."
Boone gave a small nod.
"They'll want to negotiate. Or try to strong-arm us."
Rebecca scoffed.
"Yeah, good luck with that. We just took down one of the most violent raider factions in the Mojave like it was nothing."
Roger stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"True. But I wouldn't mind seeing the look on their faces when we roll up with a bus full of their captured soldiers and tell them we did their job for them."
Six cracked his knuckles, his gaze dark.
"Then let's not keep them waiting."
Raul grinned, shifting the War Bus into gear.
"Next stop, Camp McCarran."
The War Bus rumbled forward, kicking up dust as it began its journey to the NCR's stronghold. The Mojave was changing, and whether the NCR liked it or not, Six was determined to have the final say in what happened next.
As the moving fortress surged forward, the sounds of distant explosions and gunfire now faint behind them. The remaining Fiend resistance was nothing more than a fading memory, their dominance shattered in a single, brutal strike.
As they neared Camp McCarran, the silhouette of the military base loomed in the distance. A few NCR scouts emerged from the gates, rifles raised in warning.
"Don't think they'll be happy about our visit."
Rebecca said, her grin widening.
Six's expression remained unchanged.
"Let them think what they want. They'll listen when we make them."
The War Bus rolled toward the gates of McCarran, the vehicle's turrets rotated and locked into place. Six could already see Colonel James Hsu's men positioning themselves for a confrontation, but he was confident it wouldn't come to that.
As they stopped just short of the base's perimeter, Six stepped out, surveying the gathered NCR troops. The prisoners were still being unloaded from the bus, some still too dazed to process the reality of their new captors.
Colonel Hsu strode forward, his face a mix of suspicion and respect.
"You're really doing this, huh?"
He asked, eyeing the group of prisoners.
Six didn't answer immediately. He simply looked at the NCR soldiers, his gaze piercing.
"You want the prisoners or not?"
He finally asked, his tone flat.
Hsu's lips pressed into a thin line.
"We'll take them. But you've got a lot of explaining to do."
He glanced toward the ruined Fiend's territory behind him.
"This whole taking over thing... you're sure this is what you want? You're not just stirring up a hornet's nest?"
Six smirked, the weight of his next words hanging in the air.
"Sometimes, you need to be the hornet."
Rebecca chuckled softly from behind him, clearly amused by the exchange. Six ignored her and stepped closer to Moore.
"We'll take this place as our own now. Vault 3's ours. And the Fiends are gone. We're not here for petty politics. We're here to take control. And we'll make sure you have what you need, Colonel."
Hsu studied him for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Then consider it done. But remember—you're not in charge of McCarran. Don't forget who's holding the strings here."
Six didn't flinch. He just nodded.
"I don't forget. I just like cutting them."
With that, Six turned, signaling Rebecca and the rest to follow. As the War Bus was left parked by the entrance, they headed to Major Dhatri, to claim the bounties of the leaders of the Fiends.
As they walked through the fortified gates of Camp McCarran, the NCR troopers eyed them warily. The group of battle-hardened warriors, fresh from slaughtering one of the most feared raider factions in the Mojave, made for an imposing sight.
Boone, ever the quiet sentinel, had his rifle slung over his shoulder, while Rebecca walked beside Six, her hand casually resting on the grip of her pistol. Raul, as usual, played it cool, hands in his pockets as if they had just finished a casual errand. Roger, the most relaxed of them all, hummed an old tune under his breath.
Major Dhatri was easy to find—he always seemed to be lurking near the command center, waiting for reports or bounty hunters looking to cash in. As they approached, he glanced up from his clipboard, his eyes narrowing as he took in the group.
"Well, I'll be damned."
He muttered, setting the clipboard down.
"Didn't expect to see you back so soon. What, you already got something for me?"
Six stepped forward, dropping a bloodstained satchel onto the table with a dull thud. The stench of death wafted into the air as Dhatri opened it, revealing the heads of Violet, Cook-Cook, Driver Nephi, and Motor-Runner. The major stared at them for a moment before letting out a low whistle.
"Son of a bitch."
he muttered, shaking his head.
"You actually did it. All four of them, huh?"
Six crossed his arms.
"Told you I would. Fiends are done. Whatever stragglers are left won't be much of a problem."
Ding!
[Quest Complete: Three-Card Bounty]