[color=0072bc][b]The Borgio Family - Lucky 38, 27th Floor[/b][/color]

The Borgio's waited patiently together in silence as they anticipated House's arrival. Suddenly they heard the pop of a microphone and the same dignified voice that they'd heard back in the Gourmand came flowing out. 

[i]
“My name is Robert Edwin House – President, C.E.O., and Sole Proprietor of the FZM. I have hosted you in my home, today, because I received transmissions from a very interesting conversation that you had with one of my securitrons.” He paused. “I do hope you are enjoying your stay. I do not mean to alarm you.”[/i]

[i]Robert then paused and took a deep breath. “I want to, however, skip pleasantries because I am deeply curious as to why you have come across the name of Thomas Milburn. That name has been wiped away with the Great War, yet it springs up here on my doorstep. Why?”[/i]

Salvatore was taken aback, and looked to his son in confusion. Antony, meanwhile was completely dumbfounded, while Lucia held back a smug smile.

"I...uh..I Mr. House, err...that is...I'm not sure I understand what you're asking? I don't remember ever..."

"Son..." Salvatore glared at Antony, "What is this all about?"

Antony's mind raced. He tried to think back to his initial conversation with the Securitron. But he was drawing a blank. He knew he'd rattled off a list of names, but he couldn't for the life of him remember ever saying 'Thomas Milburn'. And even if he did for some reason, why in the world would House seem to care so much about this?

"I...uh..." Antony stammered, his nervousness was getting the better of him. He was looking like a fool in front of his idol, and what's more, his father was becoming obviously cross with his blathering. 

"Mr. House," Salvatore said cheerfully, trying to change the subject, "Me and my family have come a long way, all the way from New York, the big apple itself, in the hopes of speaking to you. I'd like to speak with you about how we might establish a....mutually beneficial relationship between my family and your New Vegas."

"But please," He began to pull something from his jacket pocket, "Before we do so. Perhaps I can share with you a little piece of New York. Eh? This holotape," He said, holding up the small device, "Is a recording of my daughter Lucia and her lovely voice. She sings the largest venues in the city along New Broadway. Please, let me play a bit for you so you might understand the culture we have back home. Lucia, would you do the honors?"

Eagerly, Lucia stood up and grabbed the tape, giddy with excitement at both the prospect of showing off her singing talent, and the chance to upstage her brother. She nearly ran over to a nearby holotape player and popped it in. She could hear it starting up and waited for the first notes of her favorite performance to resound through the room and impress House. Perhaps, she thought, even woo him. 

[b]
[i]"Hello Robert."[/i][/b]


The voice coming from the holotape startled Lucia and she looked down at the holo-player in shock. What had happened to her recording?


[b]"If everything has gone as I'd planned it to, then you picked up on the mention of my name that Antony slipped in, and your curiosity has no doubt led you to invite the 'Borgio Family' to speak with you in a more personal setting. Borgio...I liked the sound of the name. Strong Italian sounding name, don't you think? Perfect for a crime family from New York." [/b] 

Lucia was horrified, what was going on? Who was this man talking? She likewise looked to her Father, who was equally stunned by the voice emanating from what was supposed to be a recording of Lucia's greatest performance. Antony simply starred blankly at the holo-player, completely dumbfounded. 

[b]"How long has it been Robert? 200? 2010 years? Longer? We hadn't seen each other for a few years even before the bombs dropped. You became a recluse and stayed in Vegas, and I lingered on in Boston. I'd wondered what had become of you during that time, and now I understand. You were preparing. You always were a planner. A planner...and one of the best Robotics engineers I'd ever had the pleasure of working with. We all missed you dearly in the department Robert. Suffice to say, I'd given up all hope of ever speaking to you again, even before the bombs fell, and afterwards, I'd thought I was the last of us left. But then I heard rumors of a rebuilt Vegas in the West and this 'convention', and I knew it had to be you. Had your style all over the damn thing. You know, I've heard Calvert may have survived as well, and it seems Bradberton did for certain. Although both in a less than...ideal state.I'm not sure what sort of condition you are in physically Robert, but I daresay I may have come out of the war looking the best of all of us. Granted that wasn't...intended. And I suffered no less, but we can speak on that later....for now, I'd like to show you something..."  
[/b]

Salvatore stood up, and looked profusely apologetic, "Please Mr. House," He began, "Forgive this babbling nonsense. I will chastise my daughter for obviously having grabbed the wrong tape." He began walking over to the holo-player, "Please, let me just remove this and we can...."

[b]"S5-34. Recall code:  Arcus."[/b]

Salvatore immediately went limp, and slumped over, but remained standing. A blank expression on his face.

Lucia's eyes widened, and she began screaming. Screaming in utter and complete terror. 

[b]
"A6-26. Recall code:  Sierra."
[/b]

Lucia followed her father, and likewise went limp. No longer screaming, and her face emotionless. 

Antony looked on in utter horror. He stammered in fear and shock, and turned to the two bodyguards behind him, but they appeared strangely unfazed by the whole situation. Antony closed his eyes. Somehow he knew what was coming next.

[b]"H4-22. Recall code: Phoenix."[/b]

Antony was suddenly struck with visions. Visions of white tiled floors, pristine bright labs, and himself standing naked before an array of individuals in stark white labcoats. All these memories came flooding back to him at once, and he remembered, for the briefest of moments who he really was.

He wasn't real. 

Like his 'sister' and 'father' he too, went limp in his chair, his head dropping down. 

[b]"I'm sure by now you've realized what these are. Its...astounding, isn't it? I admit, when I first realized what they'd done...how far they'd come. I couldn't believe it myself. You remember my old prototype Robert? The one I showed you before you left CIT? You remember what I'd called it? An android. They've taken my design Robert, and they did more with it then I'd ever thought possible. They've created the Synths. Highly advanced and fully articulate machines. No...more than just machines. 'Machines' doesn't do them justice. Synthetic organic constructs....synthetic people. That's what they are."[/b]

[b]"I could say more Robert, but I'm sure you have questions. While I obviously could not attend your convention in person...not until we determined it was safe of course, I wanted to make sure we could have the chance to talk again. If only indirectly. The 'holotape' that A6 placed into the holotape player was more than just a recording. It is a AI system all its own. Something that I designed myself. It is based fully on my own neurological matrix and is programmed to respond to various inquiries. Its response are sometimes...limited, but it is quite capable of answering some basic questions for you. I know its not ideal...but it will have to do for now. So please...ask away."[/b]