Authors Note: Hey kids. This is a little side project I thought of. I am still working on 'Courier Who Changed New Vegas' if any of you are reading that one as well. I am giving you fair warning here and now though. THIS STORY IS DARK! I think I even creeped myself out writing and thinking up some of it. It contains about every type of abuse that exists. This story is based on female courier helping the Legion take the dam, and one of Boone's more tragic outcomes. Reviews are appreciated, as are critiques on my writing ability. This is not the sort of thing I normally write, but is more a challenge to myself to write out of my norm.
Boone sat in the corner, on the hard, earthen floor of the Legion prison. His wrists bound so tightly with rope it cut into his skin. A few other prisoners, most of them NCR soldiers, also sat or laid around the bare, dimly lit room. Some of them were quietly weeping, as they awaited their fate.
Through the cracks in the wall, he could see the sky outside growing lighter. He was to be crucified at sunrise, which was probably less then an hour off. But he did not care. Boone had mentally checked out a long time ago. And he knew he wasn't going to come out of this alive in the first place.
One week ago to the day, the Legion took the Hoover Dam, pushing NCR forces all the way back west to the Mojave Outpost. And the courier he had once traveled with, was the one who secured their victory.
It was two days after that when Boone finally decided he'd had enough. Armed with only his rifle and all the .308's he could carry, he began a mission which he knew was only going to end one way. One by one, he took down scores of Legionaries. For three days straight he continued on his rampage. He did not sleep, he did not eat, he did not stop. Countless assassins came after him. But they too met their end, his beret being "The last thing they never saw."
It wasn't until after he crossed the river and was somewhere outside the Legate's Camp when fatigue finally caught up with him. He was eventually brought down and captured by a low level recruit Legionary.
Boone was taken to the Legate's camp and brought before Legate Lanius. As the Legate was complimenting Boone for his reckless abandon, Boone spat in his face, in front of all of the Legate's troops.
Now here he sat, in the Legate's camp, awaiting his execution. His whole body was numb. His mind blank. He was not afraid to die. At least he had taken as many of those bastards that he could with him. And he was ready to join them in hell.
A short while later, eight Legion soldiers entered the jail house. The two guards standing inside the door acknowledged them. One stepped forward and unlocked the gate to the holding cell.
Two of the men approached Boone and stood on either side. "On your feet, profligate!" one of them ordered as they grabbed him under the arms and pulled him to his feet. The Legionaries led him and four other men out of the building. Three women were left behind. They were most likely going to be enslaved.
Boone and the others were walked up a winding path into the rocky peaks above camp. Here several wooden crosses were situated, overlooking the dam. A group of Legionaries, slaves, and even a couple of young Legion boys had gathered to watch. Lanius himself, clad in his suit of gold armor, stood front and center in the group. Boone could feel Lanius's eyes on him. He was probably smirking beneath that mask. But Boone was damned if he was going to the bastard an inkling of satisfaction by showing any fear.
Suddenly there was a distraction amongst the crowd as a young Legionary came charging up the path. "Halt! Urgent message from Caesar! Do not yet proceed with the crucifixions!" He shouted.
The Young man ran up to the Centurion, who was to carry out the executions, and knelt down before him. "I have been sent to deliver a message from Caesar himself. The profligate sniper knows as Craig Boone is not to be crucified. Instead, he is to be transported to Fortification Hill immediately."
Boone blinked his eyes a couple of times. Did he really just hear that correctly, or was he becoming delirious?
"What? What is the meaning of this?" Legate Lanius charged forward. "I demand an explanation!" He fumed at the young messenger.
The young man bowed his head. "Sorry sir but I do not know. That is exactly the message they sent me with."
"Very well." Lanius growled as he backed off. "If it is Caesars orders, then he is to be transported to The Fort at once." He pointed to a couple of Veteran Legionaries in the crowd. "You, see to it that this man is delivered directly to Caesar."
The two men the Legate chose walked up to either side of Boone and took hold of him. They, along with the messenger proceeded to lead him away from the crucifixion site.
"What? Wait! That's not fair! Why does he get to be spared?" A young NCR soldier cried out.
"Silence profligate!" a guard barked out as he stuck the soldier over the head, knocking him to the ground.
Boone was taken away from the Legate's camp, and down a narrow path that lead to the upstream side of the Hoover Dam. There, a wooden boat was waiting for them. Boone thought about trying to make a break for it, but he just did not have the energy to do so. Under normal circumstances he maybe could have taken on the three men surrounding him, as well as the one in the boat. But he barely had enough energy to walk at this point. He was loaded into the boat and they made their way towards Fortification Hill.
The whole journey there took less then an hour. Once at the Fort, Boone was taken directly to Caesars tent. Legionaries stopped and watched him as he was led there. Some of them uttered curses and spat at him. Little doubt was in his mind that they knew exactly who he was.
Inside the tent sat Caesar at his throne. This was the first time Boone had ever laid eyes on the balding old man. And honestly, he did not look anything like Boone had ever expected. Caesar said nothing, but motioned to the ground before him. Boone was forced into a kneeling position in front of Caesar. He looked up and saw the last person he'd ever want to see step out from behind Caesar's throne.
