I didn't have him when I destroyed the base, I'l go back to the base and try. I've got the scientist in Camp Mccarran and talking to him, thats another trigger. ED-E has been with me the whole time.
That may have been the problem. Yes, the trigger of the quest is, as I read, having Arcade with you when you enter/exit the BoS base, may have even needed to be with you before they were all dead but it's worth a shot taking him there, walking in what's left of the place (if you can) and walking back out. He might trigger before that, just being in Hidden Valley.