Author's Note: I don't own Fallout NV or associated characters; but I did make up the tribe and original characters. I loved Honest Hearts, and wanted to write about tribes being assimilated into Caesar's Legion. Stay tuned for more.

Chapter 1 - Yesterday Is Here

"Well today is grey skies/tomorrow is tears/you'll have to wait till yesterday is here." - Tom Waits

2266 AD

The Legion came for the Painted Shadows one morning in the rainy season. Out of the mist they appeared in a tide of red, cutting down the sleepy sentries and striking into the heart of the tribe's settlement within minutes. While it was a surprise for the Painted Shadows, it was just another story of yet another tribe being conquered by the Legion.

It followed the standard formula, as far as conquests went. Those judged unfit or too old to serve Caesar – men and women alike – were cut down, their bodies piled up and set ablaze, while those warriors that had survived the initial onslaught were crucified along the path to the valley itself. Food stores were plundered, weapons caches were looted, and living quarters destroyed.

Except for what the tribe had hidden in the caves above the village. Three contubernia had gone in to investigate, but had not returned. After conferring about it for a few minutes, the centurions decided to cut their losses and return home with the spoils of war. There was time enough to return and take care of the caves later.

And there were spoils. Not just weapons and supplies – there were slaves, almost one hundred. Lots of new soldiers for Caesar, as well as a promising group of females. They were tied in a long line, all of them, and marched slowly out of the canyon, back toward Flagstaff; back toward Caesar.

"Did you dispose of the whole tribe?" Caesar asked the centurions when they had returned and given their reports. Over their shoulders, the line of new slaves were arranged from one end of the parade ground to the other in orderly lines.

"No, sir." One of the centurions answered from his position on one knee before his leader. "But we did find where we believe the nest to be, sir."

Behind the throne, the Malpais Legate crossed his arms and smirked. "I told you I hadn't mistranslated."

Caesar glanced back at his second in command with something approaching a smile before turning back to the centurions. "Then you'll take a force back and exterminate whatever you find inside."

His words, as they echoed across the parade ground, caused a scuffle in the ranks of the new slaves. A girl, not more than sixteen, pushed her way through the ranks, dragging the others she was tied to with her. Still wearing tribal garb and with her black hair in a heavy braid falling across her shoulder, she looked up at the absolute ruler of the Legion with tears in her eyes.

Caesar held up a hand to stay his praetorian guards, looking down at the girl with mild interest. "Hmm…A mouse steps forward. Does the mouse wish to speak?"

The girl trembled with fear, but behind the tears in her eyes there was a spark of fire. "Spare my people – this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king."*

In the heartbeat of silence after she'd spoken, the Malpais Legate took a step forward. He'd recognized the quote, from his old life. "Edw-Caesar." He said softly, eyes fixed on the girl still quaking below them. "I'll deal with this."

"Of course." The leader of the Legion's eyes narrowed as his smile took on a razor's edge. "Of course."


*Esther 7:3-4, NIV