Sitting distraught in the Camp McCarran concourse, Private Morales has been crying recently. The cause is simple: Her husband, Ranger Morales, was recently killed by a group of Fiends near REPCONN headquarters, while laying down covering fire for other troops in his group. Wounded by enemy fire, he slowly bled out on the hot, cracked asphalt as the Fiends chased his squad away, halfway to McCarran.[2] Esteban's death is a heavy burden to bear, but the inability to give him a proper burial is even heavier.[3]
Christina is left in despair, thinking about her husband's body slowly cooking in the desert sun, desecrated by the Fiends. Though the NCR promises that no man is ever left behind,[4] the Fiends set up a kill zone around Esteban's body. Soldiers would only get killed trying to get through the mines and snipers.[5]
Proper Burial: Christina asks the player to recover Esteban's body, so that he can be given a proper burial. This is accomplished by bringing the dead Ranger to an NCR fortification north of REPCONN.
Effects of the player's actions[]
Christina will thank the Courier on Radio New Vegas once the quest is completed. The body can not despawn properly, however.
Other interactions[]
Christina is erroneously marked as a respawning character and will reappear in three days' time if killed.
Notable quotes[]
"[How did he die?] He was out on patrol. Bunch of drugged-up Fiends attacked them. Esteban laid down cover fire while the others fell back. One of the men saw him get shot. He didn't die, though, not then. They tried to go back for him, but there were too many Fiends, and they had to pull out. Damn savages chased them halfway to McCarran."
"[You look upset. What's wrong?] I know... I've been crying. Stupid. I'm supposed to be a soldier. My husband... he's a Ranger, and he... he got murdered by a pack of Fiends. Goddamn savages laid his body out to rot. The brass won't say it to me straight, but they mean to leave Esteban out there. I can see that plain."
"[If your husband is dead, what does it matter if you get the corpse back?] You never lost anybody, have you? Not like this. Never had to think about that person you love all alone out there, cooking in the sun like meat... NCR never leaves a soldier behind. That's what the recruiters told us. Promised us. We believed them."
"[It seems strange the NCR wouldn't do their best to retrieve a fallen comrade.] Colonel says he can't spare the men to bring Esteban back home. And the Fiends, they put all kinds of mines and traps around his body. Snipers, too."
"[Sorry for your loss. I hope the Colonel reconsiders.] So do I. But I know he won't. Ain't important enough in the scheme of things, you know? Still... thanks for listening."
"[I can bring his body back, but it'll cost you.] Caps. This whole rotten town wants caps. Nobody does anything just because it's right. Fine. You want caps? You can have all of Esteban's back pay. NCR owes me, and I don't even want the damn money."
"[I brought his body to an NCR position. He's on his way back to McCarran.] They put him in a box? With a flag and all? I hope so. He'd have been proud. You're too good for this rotten town. First kind thing anybody ever did for me and Esteban. You ever need anything, all you need to do is ask. Thank you so much."
"[I brought his body to an NCR position. He's on his way back to McCarran.] You did what you said you would, and I owe you. Just like I promised, this is Esteban's back pay. Every cap. Maybe the caps are all that matter to you, but... you still did more for Esteban than his own country did. Thank you."
"[Sorry for your loss. I hope the Colonel reconsiders.] So do I. But I know he won't. Ain't important enough in the scheme of things, you know? Still... thanks for listening."
"[Not my problem. Goodbye.] Not your problem. Right. That's the motto in this town. Rotten people, rotten place."
"[I'll recover your husband's body.] Mister/Ma'am, I'd about given up hope. But you've got to be careful. I don't want anybody else dying on my account. Esteban's body is laid out between some buildings, east of the REPCONN headquarters. At least, that's what his squadmates said. There's an NCR position just north of there. It's on the way. They should be able to tell you what the situation is."
"[No one else will help you?] His best friend, Jackson, tried. Didn't even get permission from his CO, so it could have cost him a lot. But he never came back."
"Did the colonel send you? I... I was hoping he might have changed his mind..."
"Got to keep hoping the Colonel will change his mind... maybe send somebody to bring Esteban's body home."
"Did you start looking for Esteban? I guess my directions could've been better..."
"Feels better knowing that Esteban's not out there in the waste. But... he's still gone, you know?"
↑The Courier: "How did he die?" Christina Morales: "He was out on patrol. Bunch of drugged-up Fiends attacked them. Esteban laid down cover fire while the others fell back. One of the men saw him get shot. He didn't die, though, not then. They tried to go back for him, but there were too many Fiends, and they had to pull out. Damn savages chased them halfway to McCarran." (Christina Morales' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "You look upset. What's wrong?" Christina Morales: "I know... I've been crying. Stupid. I'm supposed to be a soldier. My husband... he's a Ranger, and he... he got murdered by a pack of Fiends. Goddamn savages laid his body out to rot. The brass won't say it to me straight, but they mean to leave Esteban out there. I can see that plain." (Christina Morales' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "If your husband is dead, what does it matter if you get the corpse back?" Christina Morales: "You never lost anybody, have you? Not like this. Never had to think about that person you love all alone out there, cooking in the sun like meat... NCR never leaves a soldier behind. That's what the recruiters told us. Promised us. We believed them." (Christina Morales' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "It seems strange the NCR wouldn't do their best to retrieve a fallen comrade." Christina Morales: "Colonel says he can't spare the men to bring Esteban back home. And the Fiends, they put all kinds of mines and traps around his body. Snipers, too." The Courier: "Sorry for your loss. I hope the Colonel reconsiders." Christina Morales: "So do I. But I know he won't. Ain't important enough in the scheme of things, you know? Still... thanks for listening." (Christina Morales' dialogue)
