Ding!
[Quest Complete: Heartache by the Number]
[Objective: Killing the conspirators]
[Bonus Objective: Obtain evidence against Alice McLafferty and Gloria Van Graff]
[Reward: Rare Silver-Tier Item Perk Hand of Vengeance]
[Bonus Reward: Rare Silver-Tier Item Perk Calm Heart]
Perk Hand of Vengeance:
Gain a 15% bonus to damage dealt with Guns
Perk Calm Heart:
Gain +50 Hit Points
Ding!
[Level Up!]
Reaching level 37, Six allocated his skill points to:
EXPLOSIVES = 46+17 > 63
For his five perk selections, he picked:
Pyromaniac = +50% damage with fire-based weapons.
His arsenal of flame-based weapons—like the Incendiary Grenades and the Flamer—would now pack even more of a punch. That bonus would be invaluable when dealing with groups of enemies or fortified positions.
As the War Bus rolled back into the safe haven of Goodsprings, the crew took a much-needed breather, knowing they had just struck a significant blow to the power structures of the Mojave.
Their enemies, the Van Graffs and McLafferty, were dealt with, and the evidence would remain buried under the desert sands—exactly as Kimball wanted. Six had leveled the playing field, but he also knew the battle was far from over.
The next few days were a welcome respite. The crew settled in, catching up on their rest and making plans for the future. Even Cassidy, who had been brimming with rage during the mission, now took a quieter, more reflective stance.
The War Bus had seen its fair share of combat, and so had they. But now, it was time to regroup.
Six spent a considerable amount of time reviewing the rewards from the quest—Hand of Vengeance and Calm Heart—two perks that would sharpen his focus in battle.
During the downtime, Six's son August followed by the Earl of Pudding approached him, their faces a mixture of pride and excitement.
"Dad, I've been working on something with Llyod."
He gestured to the large structure sitting near the outskirts of Goodsprings—an imposing frame, unlike anything Six had seen in the Mojave before.
"Check it out."
Llyod, the resident mechanic and engineer, stood beside the massive construct. It was a Knightmare Frame, but not just any Knightmare Frame. The Gundam Frame had been brought to life.
Six's eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the massive, humanoid mobile suit towering before him.
"Is that…?"
August grinned.
"Yup. Built it with Llyod's help. I've been tinkering with designs based on the old Gundams you showed me. We've got a full arsenal of them now. Barbatros, Gusion Rebake, Flauros, Duel, Buster, Blitz, Dynames, Virtue, Kyrios… and even some mass-produced models like the Graze and Flag."
The Knightmare Frame stood between four and five meters tall, resembling a perfect hybrid between the old technology from the Code Geass world and Lloyd's newfound understanding of Zetan tech.
Each Knightmare Frame had its unique features and capabilities, from Barbatos with its impressive Spike Mace to the Duel and its defensive systems. Even Blitz with its stealth systems and Kyrios's aerial form would give Six's group an overwhelming advantage in any battle.
"Impressive."
Six said, nodding approvingly.
"But can they move?"
Llyod chuckled, his hands running over a few panels.
"Oh, my babies can move alright. We've set up a test run for tomorrow. Should be ready to deploy when you need it."
Six spent the next few hours inspecting the Knightmare Frames, but there was something deeply satisfying about seeing his son's handiwork take shape. He'd often wondered what the future would hold for his children, especially considering their unique reincarnations.
But now, with August showing such an aptitude for engineering, the future seemed bright. The Knightmare Frames weren't just a technological marvel—they were an embodiment of his family's continued growth.
By the time night fell, the crew gathered in Six's home, sharing stories and plans for what was to come. The next few days would be filled with recon, tinkering, and perhaps a few more surprises. But for now, Six allowed himself a moment of peace, knowing that they had accomplished something monumental.
The Mojave night stretched on, the cold freezing winds whispering through the snowed terrain. As Six sat on his home's balcony, the faint hum of distant machinery from Goodsprings' bustling growth barely registered in the air.
Six sipped from a cold bottle of his own Nuka mix—Rum & Nuka, the fusion he personally crafted—and leaned back on the balcony rail. Below, Goodsprings pulsed faintly with life. He couldn't help but reflect on the immense change that had taken place since he'd arrived in this unforgiving land.
A deep sense of accomplishment lingered in his mind, tempered with the knowledge that their work was far from finished.
His gaze shifted to the Knightmare Frames in the distance, a quiet hum of electricity from their Naquadah generators as the Knightmares rested on platforms. Towering silently under the harsh terrain. They weren't just machines; they were symbols of the future, a testament to the ingenuity of his son August and Llyod's craftsmanship.
These weren't simply weapons—they were a beacon for a new era in the Mojave. Their design had bridged the technological gap between worlds, blending Knightmare Frame framework, with the Zetan technology, and Sea stone armor plating, and now they stood ready for whatever would come next.
Tomorrow, the test runs would begin. Lloyd was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement, eagerly awaiting the first real deployment of his Knightmare Frames. Six had his own reservations about unleashing such power, but he knew that in this world of constant conflict and uncertainty, they would need every advantage they could get.
He could hear Rebecca inside, humming softly while tending to their children, especially Lumbo the baby of the family, who Sasha always used as her minion. Cassidy's voice carried through the walls as she bickered with Roger over whose weapon was better. Boone sat outside the door, keeping a quiet watch with Rex curled up at his feet, glowing eyes scanning the dark.
August's words lingered in Six's mind. "We've got a full arsenal now." It wasn't just words. The truth was in the steel, circuits, and servos sleeping just beyond the walls of the settlement.
Each Frame had been fitted with something uniquely terrifying: Zetan energy weapons powered by a Naquadah generator for near-limitless power, reinforced Sea stone armor plated with alloy from the Zetan crafts, and assisting neuro-links adapted from Enclave research—allowing pilots to operate with instinctual precision.
Even the mass-production models like the Graze and Flag were no longer "grunts." They were elite machines, easily able to take on entire NCR or Legion battalions if need be.
Tomorrow's test would change everything. If they worked—really worked—Six would no longer be confined to even the advanced tech of the Old World or the shattered dreams of the NCR and Legion. No, tomorrow would be a declaration.
Goodsprings wasn't just surviving anymore.
It was evolving.
Rebecca, still quietly processing the events of the last few days, joined Six on the balcony. Her gaze softened when she saw where his focus lay—on the hulking figures of the Knightmare Frames.
"They're gonna change things, huh?"
She mused, leaning against the railing beside him.
Six didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a slow sip from his Rum & Nuka, the the taste burned faintly in the moonlight.
"I hope so."
He finally said, his voice low, almost reflective.
"But we have to stay ahead of what's coming. Things are shifting in the Mojave. People won't sit idly by, and those who have power won't just hand it over."
Rebecca nodded, her gaze flicking between the frames and Six's contemplative expression. She knew what it was like to live in the shadows of those with power—what it took to claw your way up and keep your footing once you reached the top.
And she knew, better than most, that her husband Six wasn't someone who'd allow himself to be blindsided.
"Do you think the NCR will be happy with all this?"
She asked, the question lingering in the cool night air.
Six didn't reply immediately. His mind wandered to Kimball's request for discretion. The NCR had made their move—they'd asked for subtlety, for McLafferty's disappearance to remain under wraps. But Six knew better than to trust politicians with power, especially when they had their own agenda.
"They'll do what they always do."
He said finally, his voice steady.
"Maintain control, keep things quiet. But that doesn't change what we've done here. The Van Graffs, McLafferty, they were just one part of a much bigger game. We've shifted the board, but we haven't won the game yet."
The sound of Lloyd's excited voice carried from the platforms. He was already tinkering with one of the frames, probably adjusting something for the test run. His enthusiasm was infectious, pulling Six back into the present moment.
"Guess he's not wasting any time."
Rebecca chuckled, standing up straight.
"But you're right. It's just the beginning."
Six nodded, standing as well. He flicked his empty bottle into the snowed-covered ground and stretched, his thoughts still sharp, his focus unwavering.
"There's a lot we still need to do. The Gun Runners, the NCR, the Legion—it's all connected. But we've got the firepower now. With these Knightmare Frames, we've got an edge they won't see coming."
Rebecca smiled, a sly grin pulling at the corner of her mouth.
"I like the sound of that. Guess we'll see how it all plays out."
With a final glance toward the towering frames in the distance, Six turned and made his way back inside. The crew was waiting. They were ready to test the limits of their new power.
Tomorrow would mark the beginning of something new—something unstoppable. The Mojave might never be the same again.