Hey folks, I know I said that I'd be doing a Dead Money story next. Well, I've actually got four stories in the works, Dead Money is included. These all take place in the same story line as the Companions series. The whole series is called "All the Things You Are." Enjoy!

"If I'm not back in twelve hours," Layla, The Courier, paused where she stood outside Ranger Station Foxtrot, overlooking the valley below. "Then I'm probably not coming back."

Raul sighed, looking at the girl. She turned the signet coin in her hand as she looked over the hill, face grim. A few days ago, she had asked Raul to go with her on a trip. The old man should have figured something was up when she went to great lengths to make sure no one knew where they were going.

Layla looked back at him, putting on one of her 'business' smiles. Raul knew it was forced. He'd been around the girl long enough to know which of her smiles were real. He frowned for a moment, thinking about the situation. He hadn't thought too poorly of the Legion before, but after traveling with the girl and her friends, he had seen what the group was capable of.

"Are you sure you want to do this? You don't want to work with them. Why even go?" He caught the girl's smile falter for a moment, starting to adopt the sheepish look he saw her wear often.

"Um, did I mention they might have the Platinum Chip?"

Raul gave her a look. "Must have slipped your mind. I'm coming with you."

Layla's fake smile immediately morphed into a stern 'leader' look. "Absolutely not. You're staying here. I'll get the chip and be back soon." Her tone left no room for argument, and Raul knew when there was no reasoning with her. She turned her gaze back to valley below, to Cottonwood Cove.

"If things do go badly, then this is it." She looked over to her ghoul companion, a wistful smile on her lips. "Thanks for everything."

"Don't talk like that, Boss. Just get back here quick."

The girl smiled again, then squared her shoulders and left the ghoul were he stood. He watched her descend the hill and disappear from sight. Once she was gone, he walked back to the ranger station and into the comm tent.

The comm officer looked up as he entered. "Something I can do for you?"

Raul sighed, then nodded. "Can you get a message out for me?"

*.*.*

Layla held her head high as the raft carried her and her Legion escort toward Fortification Hill. The Legionaries she had encountered at Cottonwood had been cordial, if not stiff, when she had presented the coin she had been given by Vulpes Inculta.

Now, however, she was going into the lion's den, and her heart was pounding, despite her efforts to calm herself. Outwardly, she appeared cool and collected. She had banished the thought of her companions and how much she was starting to regret not taking one of them with her. She had dismissed the idea at first. She couldn't be sure this wasn't a trap, and she'd never allow one of her friends to get sucked into it with her.

It didn't make the encampment looming nearer any less intimidating, or make her heartbeat slow. As she stepped off the raft and was directed toward the gate, Layla had to wonder why she had thought this was a good idea. Again her stupid curiosity had gotten her into trouble. Though, she had to admit as the guard at the gate took all her weapons and stimpaks, she had never gotten herself in this much trouble.

It was curiosity that gave her back her nerve, however. Her escort remained at the gate, directing her toward Caesar's tent. They must not have considered her a threat without her gear, as she was free to roam.

It didn't take long for her curiosity to bear grim fruit as she moved further into the camp. A line of crucifixes were posed against the river, and one still had a live captive tied to it. A lump gathered in her throat, and she started toward the man, not sure what to do.

In Nipton, when she had met her first Legionnaires, she had also seen her first crucifixions. Vulpes Inculta had met her in the center of town, telling her in his dangerous, silken voice to spread word of their deeds. She hadn't been long out of her grave at Goodsprings when she had stumbled onto the destruction of the town. All she had been able to do after helplessly watching the Legionnaires walk away from their crime was to put the crucified prisoners out of their misery. She still saw those men's faces in her dreams.

She neared the crucifix, not sure what she was going to do, but was stopped by a voice calling to her.

"Caesar's tent is that way, or are you just seeing the sights?" a voice shouted to her. She caught sight of one of the Decanus glaring at her from further up the path. Layla looked up at the man on the repurposed telephone pole, swearing she would get back to him. For now, it seemed like the entire camp was watching her.

Further up the path, Layla caught sight of a man. She had to look at him again to figure out what was odd about him. She almost laughed when she figured it out: he wasn't wearing a skirt. Judging by the pack Brahmin behind him, he was a trader. He gave her a curious look as she approached.

"Hello, Miss. Care to trade?" Layla could feel the rage resurfacing in her throat.

"Do you work for the Legion?"

He laughed. "No. Well, I do business with them, but I'm just a trader." He guessed from the look she was giving him that she was expecting more of an explanation. "Working with the Legion isn't a bad deal. Hell of a lot safer than operating in NCR territory. If raiders know you're a Legion-sanctioned trader, they leave you alone. That and you don't have to deal with NCR taxes."

Layla walked away from the man without another word. She had to before she punched him in the mouth. Supplying these monsters just because it was easier and more lucrative almost seemed more evil than what the Legion was doing itself. The Courier knew she needed to keep civil if she was going to survive this encounter, and that walking testament to human weakness wasn't helping her demeanor.

Continuing on, The Courier neared an eating area, catching the eye of a woman who was mixing what looked like medicinal powders. Layla approached her table and the woman looked up.

"I haven't seen a free woman in years." She looked like she wanted to smile, but didn't. "My name is Siri. Are you wounded? Do you need anything?"

Layla looked at what she was mixing, which seemed to be a crude healing powder. Layla could see the combination she was using was off, but kept her mouth shut. She sure as hell wasn't going to strengthen the limited healing capabilities the Legion employed. The woman was still staring at her, so she spoke up.

"You're a doctor?" The Courier said, not sure how to talk to the woman, who look like she was struggling with the same issue.

"No, never finished my training. The Legion wiped out my town and I've been here since."

"How is it for you? For any of the slaves?" Layla blurted out. She immediately regretted it as the woman looked weary and pained. She glanced around to make sure they were out of earshot of any of the men before she answered.

"We're property. They'll leave you alone if you're too old or young… usually." The Courier gave her a confused look before suddenly and horribly realizing what she meant. The slave gave her a furtive look before continuing. "You'd better watch yourself, too. Some of the men have been talking about 'trying you out.'"

Layla had figured as much, but hearing it made it far more real. She looked over her shoulder where a few Legionnaires were indeed staring at her. The Courier really hoped this hadn't been a trap. She could feel her doubts doubling as she noticed the sheer number of Legionaries all around her.

She pushed away from the table, nodding once to Siri, and continued on, heart heavy. As she walked through the next gated area, she could feel anger building up in her. Suddenly, Boone's unquenchable fury at the Legion was easy to empathize with. She wanted to kill every one of these bastards all the way back to Arizona.

The Courier came across the opening of what looked like an enclosed fighting pit where a match seemed to be in progress. She peeked past a few of the Legionaries who were gathered watching the contenders. When Layla looked, she found they were not soldiers as she had thought, but instead two emaciated slaves. They half-hearted swung their machetes at each other to the jeers of the crowd.

Disgusted and reaching her limit, Layla turned away, coming face-to-face with a particularly sour-looking Legionary. He looked her over slowly, face etched in disgust.

"What are you doing? This is no place for you woman." Layla's eyebrow rose, hands going to her hips immediately. Her defiant posture didn't seem to please the man, who sneered further.

"You are fortunate you bear the Mark of Caesar, or I'd teach you a woman's place."

Layla stifled a chuckle. "Cute, from a guy wearing a skirt."

Some of the other Legionaries had caught that remark and turned. Layla showed no fear, glaring at the Arena caretaker. If the man hadn't found enough contempt for The Courier prior, he seemed to have found his limit. He grabbed her arm, surprising her.

"Don't force me to ignore Caesar's Mark."

Layla tried to pull away, but he easily overpowered her. She stared, wide-eyed, at him, trying not to panic as he grabbed her chin with his other hand.

"You're lucky, girl. You're not my type."

Desperate to get away, she was about to kick at him when he suddenly shoved her away, laughing.

"Go, woman. You're keeping Caesar waiting!"

Layla heard some of the other Legionaries laugh as she stumbled away from the arena master. She felt their eyes on her as she hastily made her way around the camp, away from the arena.

The Courier decided that she had to get to Caesar and get this over with. Her curiosity wasn't sated, but her often-ignored sense of self-preservation was finally winning out.

When she reached the entrance to Caesar's tent, she found herself staring at it for a moment. The soldier guarding the entrance stared at her, confused. Layla shook her head, clearing it, and showed her coin to the guard. He gave her a warning look as he pulled open the tent flap. She took a deep breath and stepped in.

From here on I'll be doing regular updates, which should be every Tuesday and Saturday. I hope you all tune in!