"…The takeover won't happen until after the Legion makes their move for Hoover Dam. Once they're dealt with, Ambassador Crocker and myself are going to begin negotiations," Layla said to the gathered group, which consisted of the leaders of New Vegas' three families. Veronica was at her side; Layla had asked her to sit in to take notes. And punch anyone if things got ugly. She hadn't been surprised to see so many unhappy faces, but it didn't make her feel any better about it.

"What kind of changes can we expect?" Swank asked. He had been the least surprised by the turn of events, probably because Layla had already spoken with him directly.

She sat back at the fine, dark wood table. The meeting was being held in the Ultra Luxe; Marjorie had been delighted at Layla's suggestion of hosting the meeting there.

Thinking back to Swank's question, she had gone over the answer several times in her head. She'd also spoken with Crocker to get a better idea of what they'd be dealing with.

"Honestly, not much. I'm going to push for things to stay the way they are now, only instead of giving a cut of your profits to House, you'll be giving them to the NCR as 'taxes.'"

"Who's going to own the casinos?" Cachino asked, looking unhappy. Layla shifted in her seat, worried that this might get ugly.

"Well, right now I own them." She bit her lip for a moment. "Eventually I'm going to turn over ownership to the respective families, with the condition you all continue your gaming enterprises."

"Why would you do that?" Cachino spoke up again. Layla had known he was going to be the biggest pain in the ass to deal with in this situation.

"The NCR isn't going to be happy with me turning over ownership as it is. If they have a guarantee to run your casinos and make them money, they won't make a fuss over who owns the buildings."

"And the Lucky 38?" Cachino added.

"I'm keeping the 38," Layla said firmly. That wasn't negotiable to the families or the NCR. House had a lot of dangerous things working in the casino, including the ability to control an army of securitrons.

"Anyway, current power and water needs will be maintained, and we'll be getting the added bonus of NCR engineers should any technical problems arise. In reality, the only noticeable difference is that we'll have to follow NCR laws…" She glanced Cachino's way. "That's going to effect the Omerta's more than anyone."

"You fucking right it will," he snapped. "What the hell are we supposed to do?"

"Don't act like this is a surprise you-" Layla was cut off by a loud screeching noise coming from her Pip-Boy. Looking down, she found it had picked up a new radio signal. She snapped the radio off, and the noise stopped.

"Sorry," she said, noticing most of the room was still wincing. "Um… anyway." She looked back to Cachino. "You're just going to have to learn to make due without selling drugs. You get most of your money from prostitution, anyway."

"Oh like it's that fucking easy!"

"It's either that, or don't operate at all…" Layla said firmly. She noted the man's growing ire and sighed. "Listen, you're going to have to learn to compromise."

He didn't answer, instead saying something to one of the goons standing behind him. Layla felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. That idiot wasn't really about try something here-

"If that's all, we'll be leaving," the Omerta said. "And I'd like to set up a private meeting to discuss this."

Layla kept her face neutral. Marjorie and Swank were obviously on her side, making Cachino the odd man out. He wanted to get her alone so he could intimidate her into getting what he wanted.

"Sure," Layla answered. "I wanted to meet with each of you alone to go over specific details anyway." She looked at Cachino. "We'll set something up for the end of the week."

"That works," he said.

Soon, she'd set up meetings with the other two family heads, and the group dispersed. The Courier noticed an ugly smile had wormed its way onto Cachino's face. Let him smile. Layla planned to take Boone as usual when dealing with the jackass; though maybe this time she'd bring Raul as well. Let Cachino try to scare her with her pissed-off sniper on one side and her ghost vaquero on the other.

"Well that was interesting," Veronica said, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought," Layla replied. "Cachino's going to be a pain in the ass."

"Yup," the scribe said, then tugged on her arm. "What happened to your Pip-Boy?"

"Oh, I think I got a new radio station." Pulling up the radio settings, she played the broadcast again. After a little more squelching, a message announced the Mojave Drive-In hosting a 'Midnight Science Fiction Feature.' Afterward it started playing a jaunty jazz instrumental.

Layla grinned. "Oooooh! That sounds awesome! Are you gonna go with me?" She looked at Veronica, then frowned at the disbelieving look on the other girl's face.

"Come on, Layla. Last time you got an invitation like that from a new radio station, you got knocked out and kidnapped, remember?"

"That was different," the Courier insisted. "I've been to the Mojave Drive-In. It's just a field and a screen with a few busted cars. There's no way to put a trap that isn't just people rushing the area. If it's legit, midnight movies! If it's not, we'll take care of it."

"I still smell a trap."

"Oh come on, please?" Before either girl could continue, Layla caught sight of Marjorie coming their way.

"Thank you for calling this meeting," she began. "I think that with your help, the White Glove Society will be able to continue bringing the kind of class and sophistication otherwise missing in the wasteland."

"Oh, um, not a problem," Layla said, starting to blush. "I just want everyone to get a fair shake."

"Please, let me do something to thank you," Marjorie said, motioning to one of the masked White Gloves in the hallway. The man moved quickly to her side and listened as the woman whispered something to him. He left, and the older woman looked back at the girls with a warm smile.

"Our penthouse suite is yours for the evening." She held out a key.

"Thank you," Layla said, taking the key with a grin.

"You are most welcome, my dear. Why don't you go get settled in for the night? Maybe invite your friends?"

Thanking the woman again, the girls headed for the hotel.

"I thought they already comped you the suite here," Veronica said as they made their way to the back elevator.

"I thought they did too, but I guess there's more than one. To be honest, I was a little disappointed with the one they'd given me. Maybe this one will be better." They took the elevator up to the room.

Stepping out, both girls' eyes widened.

"Hoooooooly shit!" Veronica cried.

*.*.*

"Have you guys noticed the vending machines don't work right since House kicked the bucket?" Cass said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Yeah, it never gives you the right thing anymore, and its usually warm," Arcade responded. He was sitting at the table, thumbing half-heartedly through an old copy of Guns 'n' Bullets. It had been out of curiosity, mainly. He had a hard time understanding how anyone could put their faith in combustion firearms.

Cass stood in the doorway, watching Boone as he sat eating his fire ant fricassee.

"How can you eat that?" She asked, sounding disgusted.

"'Sgood," he said, seeming unconcerned with her distaste. The sniper was the only one of them who liked the dish. Layla had modified the recipe to leave out the cram and add a cazador egg, but even she couldn't stand the finished product.

"I'm surprised Layla makes it. She gags when she does…" Arcade grumbled. "It smells like a dead molerat."

"She makes it just for Boone," Cass said as she started rooting through the fridge. Her head suddenly popped up from the fridge door. "Gotta make her wuvy duvy his favorite," she said, making kissy faces. "You two make me sick, you know that?"

Boone had put his fork down and was glaring at the woman. She smirked as she went back to the fridge.

"Save your death stares. They don't work on me, cowboy. You'd be better off-"

She was cut off as a securitron rolled into the kitchen. Arcade found himself expecting it to be Victor for a moment, but the soldier face that adorned most of the robots flicked in their direction.

"Um… yes?" the doctor said.

Layla had managed to program the robots to deliver messages to her and the rest of the group. So far, only the NCR and the families had made use of their new function.

"Message for: 'anyone in the presidential suite.'" it said.

"I guess that's us then," said Arcade. The securitron rolled back a bit and started reciting:

"'Please meet us at the Ultra Luxe immediately for a very important business meeting. Attendance is mandatory.'"

"I guess the family meeting is over," Cass said, standing. "I wonder how much of a cluster fuck it was."

"Mild to moderate, I'm guessing," Arcade said as he stood to leave.

*.*.*

Boone rode the Ultra Luxe elevator along with Arcade and Cass. The particular suite they were going to was just about the only place in the casino he hadn't already been to. The door opened, and they stepped out. Looking into the room, he couldn't help but gape at what he saw.

The main area of the suite was gigantic; there was a bar on the far end, a separate kitchen and dinning room and an upper level with more bedrooms and another bar. In the center of the lower floor, Veronica was lounging in what appeared to be a heated swimming pool. Layla was no where to be seen.

"Hey!" the scribe greeted them as she saw them come in. "I'm in a pool! This place is amazing!"

"That 'meeting' sounded a little more urgent than 'pool party,'" Arcade said sourly.

"Oh… well, it was Layla's idea. She didn't think you'd all show up if the message said 'we're having fun.'" The scribe shrugged. "Well, welcome to the pool party!"

"Hey! Is that them?" came Layla's voice from the upper level.

"Yeah!" Veronica called back. "Cass, Arcade and Boone!"

"Sweet! Get up here guys! There's Cham-fucking-pagne!"

"Is she drunk?" Arcade asked the scribe, who laughed.

"She's had two glasses, so yeah."

The doctor frowned and started to say something, but Cass slapped him on the back.

"Come on, both of you get the rods out of your asses and let's party!"

"We already ordered dinner," Veronica said with a grin. "You have to try the beds, they're amazing!"

*.*.*

"So," Veronica started, "Are you ever going to tell us why it is you won't join the White Gloves?"

Layla looked down at the Deathclaw egg omelet she was cutting into. At first there was a mischievous grin on her face, but it shifted to a thoughtful expression.

"I'm not going to join any group now," she said. "The way things are going, I need to keep as neutral as possible."

"Well, that makes sense," Arcade said, "but that's not the real reason, is it?"

"There are a few other things, nothing to worry about now, though Layla said, sneaking a look in Boone's direction. He looked up from his steak with a raised eyebrow.

"Come on, tell tell tell," Veronica pressed.

"There might have been a slight cannibalism problem at one point," the Courier answered. "Very slight."

"They used to be cannibals," Boone said flatly. "Back when they were a tribe. House made them promise to stop."

"And a few of them weren't happy about it," Layla continued, grinning at the shocked looks the others were making.

"You all can thank me right now. I heard if we hadn't stopped the people-eating thing they were going to start mixing in with the non-people food."

Arcade had turned a particularly interesting shade of green as Layla bit into her dinner with a contented smile. Noting his still sickly look, she continued.

"Really though, it's over with. We chased off the guy who was doing it."

"'Chased off?' You mean he is still running around somewhere?" the doctor gaped.

"Well, yeah," Layla answered. "Look, I wouldn't worry about it. Just don't go jumping in any big pots of water. Especially if a fancily-dressed man asks you to."

"I'm not the one I'm worried about," he said, and shook his head. "Only you could have an entire nation and a pack of cannibals after you, bent on revenge."

"Meh," she said, stretching. "I don't like to sweat the small stuff."

"How did you find out they were cannibals?" Veronica asked. "Did they… offer you some?"

"Oh God no!" Layla cried. "It just kind of … came up. We were looking for Heck Gunderson's kid and Marjorie thought we were asking about this other girl who'd been kidnapped. Then she got off on a tangent. A people eating one."

Boone let out an irritated grunt, causing Veronica to give him an incredulous look. "What? You're not happy about stopping cannibals?"

"Oh, he's just mad because of how I got Mortimer talking about the Gunderson kid," Layla said, giving the sniper a sheepish grin.

"Well?" Arcade prompted. Layla bit her lip in a failed attempt to stop laughing. Peeking at Boone again, she only laughed harder at his still irritated expression. Calming down enough to speak, she explained.

"Grabbing Gunderson had been a mistake. If his father found out about what was going on, he'd have the place demolished. So, Mortimer told me they needed a replacement." She dissolved into giggles again.

"And?" Veronica was starting to laugh from the face Boone was making.

"And I told him they could eat Boone."

"What! What did Mortimer say?" Veronica said, laughing fully now. Layla looked like she was about to cry as she answered.

"He- he said Boone looked like he was in good shape and healthy, b-but a little gamey!"

Arcade snorted, and all three girls started laughing hysterically.

Wiping tears from her eyes, Layla noted Boone's still annoyed look and gave him a playful shove.

"Aw come on. You're acting like I had them tie to you a butcher block and rubbed marinade on you."

His annoyed look let up as he went back to his steak.

"Oh! Speaking of leading friends to the slaughter," Layla said, flicking the dial on her Pip-Boy. "Who wants to check out this movie thing at the Mojave Drive-In?" she asked, playing the station. After the current song came to an end, the message played again. Once it was over, she snapped off the radio and looked up to find a group of wary looks pointed her way.

"Absolutely not," Arcade said.

"It's a trap," Boone agreed.

"Come on! It is not," Layla said, exasperated. "Even if it were, that's an even better reason for someone to go with me."

"So you think it's a trap too?" Cass asked.

"No, I think it's a kick-ass movie. But I won't discount the possibility. Come on, please?" The looks she'd been getting hadn't changed, and she decided to go with the easiest mark. Looking to Boone, she stuck her lower lip out and batted her eyelashes. He looked like he was about to cave in, but then he made his poker face.

"I don't think it's a good idea…"

Layla's shoulders slumped. She sadly picked at the remains of her omelet until Cass groaned loudly.

"Quit acting like a damn three-year-old," the caravaneer barked, then grinned. "Now what was that about champagne?"

A smile worked its way onto Layla's face despite herself. She stood from the table. "I'll go get it."

"Back in the pool!" Veronica cried.

*.*.*

Layla pulled at the strap of her bra, trying to adjust it. Stupid stupid stupid; they forgot to tell Cass and the other to bring the bathing suits. At first, that had seemed like a buzz kill, until Veronica suggested they all did like she had and just go in their underwear.

Now they were all sitting in the shallow water, down to their skivvies. Layla had hesitated, mainly because she was wearing her actual bra; they weren't exactly common in the wasteland. But once Cass pointed out either she'd go in the water with her bra on, or she'd have to go in topless, she relented.

Not long after, the group was into champagne bottle number three. Layla had determined she was already a little drunk again, a hiccup punctuating the thought. Looking at her friends, they seemed to be having a good time in the water in their various states of undress. Boone was still wearing his beret and sunglasses, but then again, she and Veronica were wearing sunglasses too. It just seemed proper in an indoor pool.

"We're missing blow and hookers," she said out loud. Everyone looked her way, and she continued, "Then, once we've accidentally killed one of the hookers and Veronica overdoses on chems, we can call the night a success."

"You've been in this town too long," Cass said, shaking her head.

"I have. You know I haven't been shot in months?" Layla said with a giggle. "Seems like I used to get shot all the time. Not anymore."

"Poor thing," Arcade said flatly. "It does seem like after the first time you get shot, you stop appreciating it."

Layla giggled. "That's true. Hey! Let's play a game we used to do at the Mojave Express."

"Deliver the mail?" Veronica asked.

"No, handle the package!" Cass crowed.

"No no no, 'When was the first time you got shot?'"

"You couriers are nuts," Cass said, taking another drink from her bottle. Layla gave her a mock-pout.

"Come on, it's usually pretty funny." Looking to her side, she poked Boone. "You go first."

He looked like he was going to refuse, but she kept poking him until he swatted her hand away and answered.

"When I was fourteen, my parents had left home for a couple days. A group of raiders tried to take over the ranch. They got the jump on me and took my gun, but not my knife."

"And they shot you?" Layla said, sounding horrified. The sniper shrugged.

"Nowhere important," he said, pointing to an old, faded scar on his shoulder before continuing. "The ones I didn't kill ran. They didn't come back."

"Why would anyone want to come back to the ranch where the murderous child lives?" Arcade said, sounding amazed.

"Fuck, mine isn't nearly so dignified," Cass laughed.

"What is it?" Veronica asked, causing the caravaneer to shrug.

"Some guy's angry wife shot me in the ass."

"You hoebag!" Veronica laughed.

"Well I didn't know he was married… probably wouldn't have cared though. I'm just happy his wife was a lousy shot."

"Your turn," Cass said to Layla. The Courier bit her lip, feeling a blush creep up on her.

"Well?" the other woman prompted, and Layla sighed.

"I got a .22 for my fourteenth birthday…"

"Yes?" Arcade said. "Don't tell me you shot one of your brothers and they retaliated."

"No! No… I shot myself in the foot at my party," she said, raising her left foot out of the water. It sported a small scar.

Cass started a loud, whooping laugh, which Veronica joined. Once they quieted down, the Courier continued.

"They took the gun away and wouldn't let me have it back for a couple years."

"You know, that really explains a lot about you," Arcade said.

"So let me get this straight," Cass said as her laughing died down. "When Boone was fourteen, he fended off groups of marauding bandits with only a knife. When you were fourteen, you shot yourself in the foot and they took your gun away? I guess some things never change."

"Well, what about you?" Layla quickly turned to Arcade, pretty sure she was red from head to toe now. Arcade looked mildly uncomfortable.

"Well, uh…" He mumbled something unintelligible.

"Speak up," Layla said, and the doctor turned a similar shade of red.

"Some guy's angry wife shot me in the ass."

"Good lord!" Layla cried. "Not you too!"

"Well I didn't know he was married!" Arcade cried. "I should have figured, it was all too good to be true." He looked mortified, then turned to Veronica.

"Your turn," he said to her, quickly. She'd only just caught her breath from laughing when she replied.

"Hm? Oh, I've never been shot," she said, pouring herself another glass of champagne.

"Wha? Yes you have," Cass said incredulously, trying to think. "Didn't you get shot in Freeside once? The guy who was trying to steal your Nuka-Cola but you wouldn't give it up?"

"Nope, that was Layla," she answered, then seemed to noticed the unbelieving looks she got. "What? It's true, I've never been shot."

"Bullshit," Layla said. "There's no way you wade into every fight face-first and have never been hit."

"Have you ever treated a gunshot wound on me?" she asked, looking at both Layla and Arcade.

"Well, no," said Arcade. Layla shook her head as well. "But we haven't even known you for a whole year; you had to have been shot at some point before."

"Nope, not even once."

"That's… That's crazy," Layla said. Veronica shrugged and finished her drink. She picked up the bottle, noticing it was empty.

"We're gonna need another bottle."

*.*.*

Cass peeled her face off the hard surface it had landed on when she passed out. It took her a moment to realize she was lying on the bar in the dining room. Grumbling, she allowed herself to slide off the counter onto the floor. Crawling to her feet, Cass grumbled as the bleary world greeted her. Rubbing her eyes, she looked down to find herself still in her underwear, which she means she probably hadn't fucked anyone last night.

Admitting to herself that was probably a good thing, she started wandering around, looking for her companions. It didn't take long to find most of them; Veronica and Layla were both passed out on the couches of the sitting area. Boone hadn't made it to the last couch, apparently; he was sprawled out face-down on the floor.

Cass sighed; she'd thought he'd do the only sensible thing while drunk and in a heated pool: sloppily make out with the girl he had the hots for. He hadn't, and she shook her head at the man, who was clad in nothing but soggy, clingy boxers. Cass consoled herself by taking a moment to enjoy the view.

She suddenly realized she hadn't seen Arcade anywhere on the first floor. Moving up the stairs she peeked around the master bed to find it empty. She finally found him in the bathroom, in the bathtub, completely nude.

If Cass had any sense of decency, she'd cover him up. She didn't, instead looking him over as well. The doctor apparently was hiding a fairly ripped body under his lab coat and frumpy clothes. She shook her head. Why were all the hot men in her life gay or in a pussy-footing, almost-relationship?

Hearing voices downstairs, she rejoined the others to find Layla stumbling off the couch.

"Cass," she groaned, "the world's spinning."

"No it isn't, you just drank a bottle and a half of champagne," she assured the younger woman.

"Oh." The girl tripped over Boone and landed on her back. Cass walked over and looked down to find her grinning.

"Totally worth it."

*.*.*

Layla strode up to the metal shack Raul called home much later in the day. It was small and depressing, as usual, but the ghoul seemed to enjoy it. The Courier was pretty sure he only kept coming back to it because all his random junk was stored there. She knocked on the tin door.

"Raul? You home?"

"Hey Boss, come in," came from inside a moment later. Opening the door, she stepped in. The shack was as dim and messy as always. Layla found Raul at a table, sorting through a few electronic pieces. She ambled up to him, running her plan through her head one last time.

"What's up, boss? Or are you just here to pester your elders?"

"Har har," Layla said. "I was just in the area. So, whatcha doin' tonight?" she asked, smiling sweetly at him. The old ghoul gave her a suspicious look.

"Why?"

Layla forgot her plan and just barreled in, head-first.

"I got a message on my Pip-Boy about the Mojave Drive-In playing movies at midnight. Wanna go with me?"

Raul shook his head. "I don't know, boss. Sounds like a cage full of mystery to me."

"Oh come on, please?" She gave him her best pout, full eyelash-batting.

"Count me out."

The Courier let out a loud sigh.

*.*.*

"Well, see you guys later," Layla called, checking her Pip-Boy. It was eight o'clock. By the time she got to the drive-in, it would be just before midnight.

"Where are you going?" Arcade asked, poking his head out of the kitchen door.

"To the drive-in, like I've been saying all day," Layla answered, sighing. The elevator door opened, and she stepped in, ED-E trailing after her. "See you in the morning!"

By the time she'd gotten to the outer gates of the Strip, all of her companions had caught up to her.

"I thought no one wanted to go," she said to the gathered group.

"If we don't go, you're gonna end up getting kidnapped and making us feel bad," Veronica said.

"Uh huh," she said, poorly hiding a smile. "Well, let's get a move on then."

"I think we've been manipulated," Arcade said as they headed out of the city.

*.*.*

"What the hell is that?" Cass asked as they reached the Drive-In. There was a pile of smashed machinery that looked like it had crashed into the ground.

"Neat!" Layla said, moving to get a closer look. "What is it… exactly?"

"I'm not sure…" Arcade said, examining the machine. Raul and Veronica had stepped up to take a look as well.

"I don't know this technology," Veronica said. "We'd better not get too close… It might be dangerous."

"It just looks like a projector," Layla said. Almost on cue, the machine sputtered, then projected an image onto the screen. She jumped about a foot, but looked up at the screen with a grin.

"Look! It's just a movie!" she cried. The group all looked at each other, and Veronica shrugged, picking around the place for a good seat. Layla smiled, then squinted at the screen.

"Does it look out-of-focus to you?" she asked.

"Kinda," Veronica answered.

"Yeah, maybe there's a way to adjust it on here." The Courier moved to the satellite and reached out to touch a dial. As she did the machine lit up brightly. Before anyone could react, there was a blinding flash, then nothing.

Moving to see what happened, Cass found the spot where Layla had been standing was empty. There was no sign of her.

"Oh you've got to be fucking kidding me!"

Well, Red Amnesia, it's Wednesday, you know what that means :p.

See you folks on Saturday, and I officially take back what I said: I wish Lonesome Road was out. *sigh*