First time I tried to head North from Goodsprings, I was low level and got killed pretty fast by Cazadores. Victor joined me and he got killed too.

Second time, I survived just find because I waited to go until I was around level 20, but again, Victor shows up, wanders into enemies, gets killed. I reloaded from my last save.

I haven't beaten the main quest yet, and have no idea what role Victor will play, but he seems interesting enough that I'd rather he not get killed. Is there some non-spoilery way to reassure me that I will be able to do this later after he has served his purpose (whatever it may be), that it's no big deal if he gets killed while I'm strolling around, or that I can keep him safe as he heads down that road?

Victor is a program inside a robot. Catch my drift?