You write up a report back to Kreger, informing him of your wishes to create a home-grown intelligence agency instead of relying on flaky NCR citizens and the Wastelanders of unknown repute. It may take time and more money this way, but after your joint-investment with the NCR runs its course, you should be swimming in caps.

And you’re not too worried about the time commitment. You aren’t going anywhere. At least in the metaphorical sense.

You are literally going many places this month, the first being to the hellhole that is The Divide to see an old friend.

Packing up your travel pack, you give standard maintenance orders to Yes Man and place him in charge while you’re gone. The question of a vice-courier still needs to be answered, but you’re not sure of who’s the best for the job.

But this is why you’re heading down to the canyon entrance, as there’s very few people who match you in ability, intensity and drive.

You always enjoy the walks across the Mojave. It’s not only an opportunity to get out of that stuffy office, but you get to see the direct impact of the many decisions made every month. The region looks much different than seven months ago, and that’s a good thing.

The roads are safer, courtesy of the army of Securitrons patrolling more and more of the roads and you notice a new homestead or rest stop every time you journey out. It seems the combination of internal stability, massive investment and the allure of New Vegas is too much to resist.

The pessimistic part of your subconscious asks when the bottom will fall out, when you’ll face a truly apocalyptic threat that makes the Boomer Blight look like a cold. But you’re the Courier, nothing is truly beyond your ability.

This self reassurance carries you through the canyon wreckage and within a day, the familiar hellscape of The Divide, formerly Hopeville, stretches out before you.

You don’t get an opportunity to mentally prepare yourself for the trek to Ulysses’ temple, as he’s camped out right along the edge.

You approach slowly to not surprise him and send him tumbling down below.

I was wondering when you’d finally make the trek back here, back to this grave.

There’s no way he’s still upset about that. Ulysses is a stubborn man but God damn.

You take a seat next to the fire and think through how you want to approach this.

You’ve been busy, Courier Six. I haven’t been on this ledge for seven months, before you ask.

Well that was the first question. You’re not going to let him get the better of you again.

[Yes, I have. I assume you’ve been back to the Mojave since the Second Battle of Hoover?]

Ulysses moves back from the ledge and repositions himself on the other side of the fire to face you.

War, war never changes. The Old World Wall, the Hoover Dam. This concrete scar went by different names, but a symbol for many. To the New California Republic, it was another notch in their belt, more land to work, more taxes to collect. To Caesar’s Legion, it was the showdown for their most worthy opponent. An opportunity for Edward Sallow to test the mettle of the legionnaires. To Mr. House, a bargaining chip to advance his vision of a hyper-capitalist autocracy centered only around the jewel of the Mojave. To you, Courier Six, it meant much more.

From the grave outside of Goodsprings, you stumbled into the power-struggle of three factions vying for control of the dam, the Strip and treasures the Mojave possessed. Through your travels you gradually became disillusioned with the “harbingers of the future”, disappointed that they each came so close, but missed the mark in pathetic ways.

It wasn’t until your path merged with Ulysses that your future started to crystalize. Following his footsteps in the Big Empty, you listened to his words and considered their meanings. You witnessed in Father Elijah the corruption that happens not with old and new world ideals, but by limitless potential and absence of humanity. With Ulysses, however, the terrible truth about your past was revealed.

The Divide, perhaps a community worthy of carrying the torch of civilization, snuffed out by your hand. And yet you not only kept that community alive, but you helped it thrive through pure determination alone. Listening to Ulysses’ discarded words as you traveled that hellscape, you came to understand his disgust with both Bear and Bull. When you entered his temple, your mind was decided.

Your experiences traveling the wasteland resurfaced in your thoughts as you headed for the dam, ready to bring the conflict to a close once and for all.