The group were on the road again, however this time they had a different objective in mind... They were currently barreling down the road, past the 188 Trading Post and towards Novac.

Afton hadn't told the rest of the group yet, but it was not Novac he intended to visit... No, he actually wished to gain entry into Helios One. After all, what better weapon to use against an army than an orbital death laser... ​​

The only person who might actually have an inkling into what his plan might be is Veronica, but she was keeping her mouth shut for fear of the information getting out... Elder Elijah was still a sore spot for her, especially after Afton had told her that the man had caused Christine to be experimented on.

Still, that wasn't all that'd happened since they start driving to Novac...

"Operations in the Think Tank are continuing at an adequate pace. The slaves are all participating in limited capacities, but are not being experimented on, under your orders. Research would progress at a much faster rate if you rescinded that order." the voice of Glados asks in his mind as he sits in the passenger seat.

Yesterday the AI had apparently managed to create some sort of telepathy device by utilising the X-2 Antenna. Something about being able to transmit and receive brainwaves over a large distance, apparently since he still had all that machinery in his head, Glados was able to contact him whenever and wherever he was... Though, the quality of the transmitted information was heavily reliant on whether he was underground or not. Brain waves don't travel through earth all that well apparently.

"And how goes research on the Powerarmour? I know you've only had a day, but I trust your and the scientist's expertise in the matter..." he concentrates on this thought with a determined look on his face.

It was difficult to send what he actually wanted to send instead of a tsunami of other information he was unconsciously thinking about. Still, with some practice, he imagined he'd get the hang of it. He only hoped Glados wouldn't judge him for some of the more 'daring' thought he might have...

Anyway, from Glados occasional updates, he was now aware that Doctor Zero had dismantled the Powerarmour and they were now examining each individual piece of technology contained within to get an accurate idea about how it all worked. The scientists were more or less aware of how it functioned, but it was the small intricacies that escaped them.

For example, how strong the servos in the limbs should be... One wrong adjustment and the robotic arm would tear the user's limb off... Afton would definitely make them test whatever they make on some Lobotomites before he gives a set to Veronica.

Additionally, the other projects he'd set the Think Tank had made much progress. Most of all were the cloning tech. Indeed, Dala was eagerly working on it for obvious reasons. She more than anyone wanted a flesh and blood body again, she'd not tasted, felt, smelt, or touched anything in two hundred years... Afton knew he'd have gone crazy in the same situation.

Still, depending on how attractive Dala turns out being, he might have to indulge her once she regains her body... Just to show his gratitude, of course, he had no other motives...

Other than the new telepathic mode of communication Glados had discovered, Afton also wanted to check the area around Helios One. He wanted to see if there were any scraps leftover from that battle all those years ago. He knew the NCR would have likely taken everything and attempted to reconstruct it into something viable, but perhaps they'd missed something?

Though, there was still one thing he was unsure about... Whether or not to revisit the Brotherhood of Steel bunker. He was sure he would go in with Veronica, but now he had the opportunity he was getting cold feet...

Just thinking about how those he'd left behind would react was not a nice thought. But, perhaps they'd forgive him after he'd fixed the ventilation?... Yeah, probably not.

As the group were driving towards Novac they were of course pleasantly received. They hadn't been gone that long so to the residents it was as if only yesterday Afton and his group had saved the town...

Of course, Veronica and Tamia hadn't been with them last time, so the group took the time to introduce them to everyone... Though, as this was happening Afton was elsewhere.

A few miles up the street from Novac was Helios One, the research facility that the Brotherhood of Steel had previously inhabited, but was now managed by the NCR. It brought back both good, and bad memories as he approached the place.

Around the perimeter were a decent amount of NCR troopers patrolling the place. It was funny that they could spare so many soldiers here but almost completely neglected Novac's safety... Guess it just showed what the NCR's priorities were.

Afton wasn't really sure what the NCR thought of him nowadays, he had massacred the Tops recently and gotten away with it scotch-free... No doubt the soldiers in Helios One would've heard about it.

It was for that reason he couldn't risk being seen near it. His plan was to activate Archimedes so he could drop orbital lasers on whoever he wants, additionally, it would be a good idea to distance himself from the facility so he'd have at least some sort of alibi when people start investigating...

He had no doubt people would start shitting themselves once he used the weapon, the last thing he wanted was for people to link Helios One to it and stop it from powering the weapon.

So, instead of just strolling up to the front doors, he activates his Stealthboy and goes invisible, afterwards sneaking to the back entrance contained within metal linked fences. He'd not immediately activate the facility, first he wanted to know just how far the NCR scientists had gotten to discovering the true functions of Helios One.