Prologue: Mojave Hell

Quote:

"Truth is…game was rigged from the start."

-Benny

Song: "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash

All was quiet in the Lucky 38. Then again, it was always quiet. It was abandoned after all. No one occupied the place except for a tyrannical business man and his robot slaves. Not much if you think about it.

Now out in the Strip, it was a ruckus out there. Drunk NCR Troopers and Gamblers, Securitrons flashing their lights and sounding their sirens after them, NCR MPs yelling at the troopers, and to top it all, the faint, haunting sound of an old time favorite song: Blue Moon.

But outside the wall, things weren't as happy as they seemed. Fiend after Fiend advanced upon the wall, and fell one after the other after receiving a bullet through the head. NCR Veteran Rangers sat at stations around the wall, keeping watch for the murderous junkies. All they had was their rifles and their senses. And people wonder how the Strip stays safe.

One of these rangers was well known; Ranger Ryan Scott. Now this is where the story of our heroes, the courier and her friends, begins; within in the thoughts of a very tired soldier during the middle of the night…

Scott shivered as the wind blew around him and caused a foreboding wail, as the camouflaged perch vibrated around him. This is what I get for wishing for a nuclear winter, He thought. He sat on a ruined chair, upon a tower, overlooking the entire area in front of the West Gate to Freeside. It was the perfect vantage point. He could see for miles.

Making sure his Ranger gear and helmet were still secured, he got up and stretched, trying to warm himself. He checked the thermometer within his helmet system. It read twenty degrees. No wonder he was so cold. It should have been snowing.

I wonder if I should radio in Esposito, Scott queried to himself. Esposito was his counterpart, taking his position during the day. Scott was playing around with the thought of calling him in for some company. No, he decided. Better to just let him sleep. I can get through this. I've gone through worse.

Just then the Veteran Ranger sees movement out of the corner of his eye. He turns on his advanced targeting system within his helmet as his other hand reaches for his Anti-Matter Rifle. He lowers the barrel and looks through the scope. He sees the movement again and pinpoints it next to a car. Scott sees a Fiend with a scoped rifle running from cover to cover. From pure muscle memory, he goes through his checklist as he prepares to shoot. Bullet chambered: check, Scope zeroed in: check, wind conditions: check, safety off: check. He looks through the scope and sees the Fiend stand behind a ruined car. Scott puts the crosshair right above the guy's head. He breathes, once, twice, holds between the third, and squeezes the trigger. Then he watches through the scope and sees junkie's brain explode out the back of his head as his body drops right in place.

Scott feels an involuntary twitch, as his mouth turns into a sly grin. One down, two million to go. He laughs and rests against his chair again. He suddenly feels fatigued and decides a few minutes of shut eye can't hurt. He closes his eyes and gives in to his body. He falls asleep a few seconds later.

Meanwhile at Cottonwood Cove:

Vulpes Inculta lied on his cot as he remembered the events of that morning. He had met with a rogue NCR trooper, making the arrangements for their next transaction. He smiled as he remembered the details; he was to "entertain" her an hour from this exact moment. In exchange he would receive the details to the amount of security at Camp Searchlight. He couldn't wait. Just at that moment someone ruffled the tent entrance, announcing their presence.

"Enter," Vulpes called. A Decanus opened the flap of the tent. Vulpes looked at him expectantly. "Lord Aurelius wishes to see you before your transaction, Lord Vulpes," the Decanus stated matter-of-factly.

"Very well; tell him I will be in his office shortly. Oh, and due notify the dear Centurion that I answer to myself and Caesar only, not some Lieutenant who is charged with babysitting recruits," Vulpes replies with a hint of steel in his voice.

"Of course, Lord." With that the Decanus rushes off to deliver the message. With that, Vulpes rose from his cot and began to don his signature Vexillarius Armour. Once he finished putting his Lucky Shades into place, he left the tent, heading towards Aurelius' office building.

Aurelius of Phoenix stood facing the back of his office, studying a map of the Mojave and the surrounding areas to the East. He stood straighter as he heard the door opening.

"So," he said, not caring to turn around, "what is his response?"

"Lord Vulpes is coming; however, he strongly dislikes being summoned by anyone other than Lord Caesar," the Decanus reported dutifully.

"I could care less who he wants to report to," Aurelius said angrily. He sighed. "Very well, you may go."

"Vale. True to Caesar."

"Vale," Aurelius muttered, repeating the usual farewell. He heard the door open and then shut quietly. He cursed Vulpes under his breath as he waited and continued to wait for the Frumentarius.

Ten minutes passed before he heard the door open and shut once again.

"Sit," He commanded. He heard no movement. He turned and saw Vulpes staring at him, with no show of emotion on his face. Aurelius glared at him, not caring if he showed contempt or rage.

"I said sit," he commanded once more. Vulpes stared blankly at him. "Sit the FUCK down!" Aurelius yelled.

"I will do as I please," Vulpes replied calmly, not showing any emotion. "Did you send for me just to scream at me, or do we have business to attend to?"

Aurelius looked at him with a rage filled stare. "Caesar has no recent reports. He asks why." "Did you happen to send word about my newest accomplishment?" Vulpes asked. Aurelius shook his head. "Of course not," Vulpes sighed with contempt. "Well, if you would be so kind, I would ask that you sent the Decanus, which came for me, up to Fortification Hill with word of my newest meeting."

"Very well; he will know within the hour." Aurelius got up and went behind Vulpes to open the door. He threw it open and called out, "Decanus Severus! Go to Lucullus and bring word to Lord Caesar that Camp Searchlight will fall by tomorrow night! Also, notify him that his Pet will be the one responsible!"

"Percepta! Vale!" The Decanus replied swiftly. Good, Aurelius thought. He turned to face Vulpes. "Word has been sent," he informed the Frumentarius. "So it would seem," Vulpes replied casually. "Well, I should be on my way. I must be northwest of here by midnight if I am to meet our contact in time. Vale," he said, dismissing himself. "Vale," Aurelius replied. With that the Frumentarius left, leaving Aurelius more furious than before.

At Goodsprings:

Benny stood watching the two bodies sprawled on the ground. One was a girl, the other a man. Her, she was just a kid, not even 25. The man however, ho, that was a completely different story. He looked like he could be Benny's uncle. Benny turned to look at the kid again. Sad, he thought. It ain't her fault she got tied up in this. He felt sorry for her. Still business was business. It was nothing personal. He was going to make sure they knew that when they woke up.

He came out of his trance as he heard them both stir. He looked at Jessup and McMurphy. "Are ya done?" He asked. "It's show time." Jessup looked from the hastily dug grave and stared at him like he thought Benny was an idiot. "Yeah, it's done. Let's get this over with, ass-wipe," the Great Kahn replied. "No need to get feisty. I could 'accidently' lose your pay ya know," Benny replied suavely. "Yeah, is that so? Well, if that happens, this knife could 'accidently' get shoved up your ass," Jessup replied. "Fair enough," Benny countered. They heard a moan. "Shut up!" He hissed. "They're awake."

Benny looked as the girl and man struggled against the ropes keeping their wrists bound. As the girl looked up, he swore he'd never seen a more beautiful face. She seemed untouched by the harsh conditions of the Mojave. Sadly, that would change in a few moments. She looked into his eyes and he saw pure fear. Benny saw the man turn to her, out of the corner of his eye. He whispered something inaudibly to the girl. Benny heard her mutter a soft reply.

"You got what you were after, so pay up!" said McMurphy fiercely. "Your crying in the rain, Pally," replied Benny. Jessup chuckled and said, "Guess who's waking up over here." Benny threw down his cigarette and smashed it with his shoe, as Kate looked up. "Time to cash out," Benny said casually as he looked back up at Kate. McMurphy put his arms out to his sides and asked impatiently, "Will you get it over with?" Benny held up a finger, replying, "Maybe Khans kill people without lookin'em in the face, but I ain't a fink, dig?" He looked back at Kate as he reached into his jacket. He pulled out a platinum chip. "You've made your last delivery, kid," he told her as he put it back in his jacket. "Sorry you got twisted up in the sink," Benny continued and pulled out a handgun with gold engravings on it. He looked at it, then back at her. "From where you're kneeling, it must look like an 18 karat run of bad luck." He smiled then pointed at her head. "Truth is…the game was rigged from the start." Two shots rang out, as Benny shot both of them in the head. "He looked at Jessup and McMurphy. "Get burying. I'll be at the saloon if you need me." He pointed at Jessup saying, "Don't need me. Get it?" "Yeah," Jessup said warily. He walked over to the two bodies, as he and McMurphy dragged the bodies to the grave. With that Benny began to hum to himself, as he walked down the hill.