Chapter 181: Chapter 176

It always entertained Cait seeing how the big shots in the wasteland ended up kowtowing before Sev whenever they got exposed to the wonders of the Nexus. These NCR people were no exception.

 

The senator leading them was at least smart enough to admit his awe, and it seemed that a simple buffet was all that was needed to win him and his crew over. Cait had snickered with Piper and Nat after watching the wasteland hicks stuff themselves. Supposedly, these people still viewed the BoS and the Enclave as dangerous threats, even if the NCR has faced and defeated them. 

 

Imagine the shit they’ll lose if Sev allowed them a full tour of the Nexus military hangars. 

 

Imagine the hit to their sanity if they were permitted to visit Blacksite Tleilax.

 

Those were fun enough scenarios, but Sev was preferring to approach the NCR with a softer touch. What information gathered from traders and wasteland travelers painted an admittedly impressive picture of a hardy state. Sure, they seemed mired in corruption and their tech was still behind the Enclave overall, but it was still a big deal to establish and maintain a state for as long as the NCR did.

 

Hopefully the NCR would know how to accept Sev’s rule once the Nexus moved west again. It’d be a shame to have all of their accomplishments be obliterated by Tiberium shards and white lasers.

 

After allowing the delegation their rest, Cait joined Sev, Piper and Curie for the first formal meeting between the Nexus and the NCR. Senator Julian and his aides seemed bloated, probably after stuffing themselves again during breakfast. 

 

“I must admit, err, Sev, that the Nexus’ cuisine is very…appealing to the palate.” At least they were appropriately grateful for it. The senator then cleared his throat and adopted a more formal tone. “Ahem. Anyway. On behalf of the New California Republic, I, Senator Julian Toomes of the state of Los Angeles, offer my sincerest gratitude to the generosity of our Nexus host.”

 

A few of his people were furiously writing every word down, their pencils shaking about like the tail of an eager Doomgoose. Cait absently glanced to the ceiling, where Eva was no doubt listening in and transcribing the whole thing as the audio was recorded. 

 

Yeah, screw the ghoul nostalgics and their ‘hard work’ bullshit, it’s good to have such conveniences around.

 

“I’m glad you find our hospitality to your liking, senator,” Sev replied. “Now, what does the NCR seek in coming here?”

 

Julian’s wide smile was far less slimy than when Cait first met him. “We came as a fact-finding mission, to ascertain for ourselves the truth about the Nexus. I have to say, the tales of the bounties within this state does not do it any justice!” 

 

Less slimy, but not completely free of it. 

 

“If I may be so bold, could you clarify some of the other rumors about the Nexus?”

 

“What do you want to know?” came Sev’s smirking reply. “We’ll try to answer everything you have in mind.”

 

Cait, Piper and Curie joined in when the senator and his men posed various questions, providing answers like it was a quiz game show.

 

“No, the Nexus does not tolerate slavery within its borders,” Sev firmly said.

 

“We’ve found no reason to discriminate against non-feral ghouls,” Curie stated.

 

“The Nexus accepts any who sincerely seeks refuge or wishes to start a new life, and agrees to adhere to our laws” Piper said with surprising eloquence.

 

Not to be outdone, Cait herself tried to stretch her sentences a bit. “Most of our farms and ranches are…operated by robots, but there’re some that’re owned by people who actually like working the soil.”

 

The girls did their absolute best to keep their polite smiles on throughout, though it was hard at times, especially with the more outlandish questions.

 

“Is it Enclave or Brotherhood technology that you’ve used to keep your Sentinel robots flying?”

 

“Was the Institute really made up of inbred mutants?”

 

“Did the Enclave really plan to taint the waters with mind-controlling drugs?”

 

What really boggled them though was Sev proving to them that yes, magic was real. “Not like the fairy tales, mind you,” he said as he drew a simple circle with some table salt and pepper, and the New Californians boggled at they followed along to the ritual to hybridize the seasonings. The redhead almost burst out laughing as they jumped out of their seats in surprise at the burst of green and blue flames. A snicker did escape her and Piper though as the NCR delegation cautiously licked at the resulting crystals, and they let out shocked noises even as they suckled away at the salt/pepper ore.

 

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“The more…harmless information on the metanatural is available in our public libraries, while more…significant topics are a state secret for the time being, of course.”

 

Julian nodded dumbly, his gaze alternating between Sev and the crystal between his fingers. “O-Of course. National security and all that. I understand.” 

 

The senator managed to leave the wasteland hick mannerisms and return to a more coached, statesmanlike expression. “I would not presume to inquire too much into the Nexus’ secrets...” Not yet, Cait thought as she bit back a snort. “...though if I may ask, is the discovery of…magic the reason your Nexus Severalty has scoured radiation and FEV contamination so thoroughly?”

 

“Partially,” Sev answered, and Cait could already see the trail of this conversation.

 

Julian was thoughtfully silent for a moment, hushing a couple of his underlings who were about to jump out of their seats. Cait exchanged silent looks with Piper and Curie, as they all saw the gears turning in that politician’s head. No doubt he was trying to capitalize on this knowledge.

 

“I see… If it’s not too rude of me to inquire, would the Nexus be willing to negotiate for services in cleansing the land of the New California Republic?”

 

There it was. Aaand…

 

“Unfortunately, I have to refuse,” Sev replied without missing a beat, just as expected. “The Nexus is well aware of the significance of clean water and land, especially as currency for influence. While I admire your NCR, I cannot offer such power to people I do not fully trust to be aligned with the Nexus.”

 

“I…understand.” Cait blinked at the deflated senator. She’d expected him to insist or wheedle, but he just accepted the rejection rather easily. That put him leagues above the merchant snobs in New York and Boston. “Would trade and other services - like say consultants for construction and defense - be available for negotiations?”

 

“To a degree, sure,” Sev answered with a nod, reviving some hope in the New Californians. “Though if you don’t mind, before we move on to treaties and trades…” Senator Julian and his people tensed a bit with anticipation. Sev was still smiling politely, though Cait noted the hint of coldness creeping into it. “...I’ve heard much about the NCR’s rival, a…Caesar’s Legion? Could you care to enlighten me about them?”

 

Oh, those fuckers.

 

“Of course. Of course!” The senator brightened up significantly, and he turned to his aides. “Jonny, you served with Crocker in New Vegas, right?”

 

Jonny shrunk a bit in his seat at the sudden attention of the room. “Err… Yeah?”

 

“So you’ve had a clearer picture of the Legion, right?”

 

With a gulp, the younger man nodded and forced himself to sit up straight as Sev offered a tolerant smile. “I would appreciate any information you could give us.”

 

And so Jonny took a gulp of water, cleared his throat, and started briefing them on Caesar’s Legion. Cait found herself scowling at the notion of a vast slaver empire that practiced a twisted version of Sev’s ‘peace through power’. Piper and Curie too were frowning with distaste. The news they got from wastelanders matched the disgusting details about the Legion. 

 

Sev though, remained neutral, patiently listening to every word Jonny said. The redheaded girl suddenly froze as a thought occurred to her. Maybe he already knew about Caesar’s Legion? Sev definitely had some idea of certain things without encountering them before. Or he could’ve had some eyebots sent across the continent.

 

Was he comparing what he knew against the NCR’s retelling to see if they were exaggerating?

 

“So…the battle for Hoover Dam resulted in a stalemate?” he finally asked after Jonny was done with his tale.

 

“Unfortunately so,” Julian said sourly. “Hostilities cooled down, and we’ve gotten news that the Legion are bunkering down all across their lands, but god knows if they’re up to something.”

 

Sev finally frowned, though it was one that was puzzling over something. Cait knew the wrinkles on his brow well enough.

 

“Hm. In that case, would the NCR be open to negotiating borders if the Nexus decides to…remove Caesar and his Legion?”

 

The senator tried to stammer out an answer while his aides’ jaws dropped.

 

On the other end of the table, Cait traded eager grins with her friends. Taking on a slaver empire? 

 

Sev sure knew how to show his girls a good time.

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