"Macready?" Catherine gasped, hands placed on her old friends still chest. "Macready!?"

The whole sense of dread and loss threatened to overpower Catherine, but she stayed determined.

"Your not dying yet, you Mungo..." She whispered through gritted teeth. She pulled out a Stimpack, Med-X, Buffout, Psycho, and a Empty syringe. Injecting the Stimpack, Med-X, and Psycho into the Buffout bottle, than shaking it well, She then drew the mixed liquid into the empty syringe.

She held the oddly-colored mix over Macready, for both her and Nate to see. "Cross your fingers." She said, jamming the syringe into the Mercenary's chest.

The Syringe emptied of it's contents and was soon taken out and discarded. Nate and Catherine both watched and waited in agonizing silence.

...Breathing.

Macready lept up from his lying position coughing like mad, before jumping to his feet.

"AAHHH!" He yelled in restrained pain. "WHO THE FUCKIN-FRICKING-FRELL!?"

"Language, Macready." Nate chuckled, standing up.

"WHO HAS BEEN PUNCHING MY CHEST!?" He screamed, walking impatiently in circles. "MY CHEST IS FUCKING POUNDING LIKE FUCKING BONGO DRUMS!"

"It's called a Heartbeat." Catherine deadpanned.

"Did you just half-ass an Adrenaline Dose?" Nate inquired. "I didn't know you could do that."

Catherine shrugged. "Bray taught me some Craazy shit."

TWANG!

They both turned to the Rampaging Macready who had just kicked a piece of Debris the size of a Basketball across the ground, hurting his foot in the process.

"RAAAAH!" He yelled, the last of the rush wearing down. He eventually just slumped back against the exterior of the Plane.

Catherine knelt down beside and tended to the bandages. "You need to stay alive Macready, Your no good to us dead, you Mungo."

"You're the Mungo." Macready smiled weakly, cringing as the pain returned.

Nate paced back in forth in front of them, seemingly deep in thought. "Macready, you said Kellogg did this?"

The Merc nodded. "Yes, or at least someone looking like 'em." He shrugged. "I only met him once after all; Bald with a metal brace on his arm?"

Nate frowned. "That's him. God Dammit." His faceplate folded back, allowing him to rub his forehead. "How did he survive being Atomized at Point Blank Range?"

"Wow." Catherine mused, stitching up Macready's face. "What did you do? Unload a Mini-Nuke in his fa-"

"Yes." Nate replied simply. "They wanted me to retrieve part of his brain afterward, that made me laugh. Luckily, said part was cybernetic and had survived the blast."

While Nate pondered the possibilities and Catherine patched Macready up, the Mercenary continued his story.

"The Last thing I remember is talking with a Pilot, then waking up in the wreckage...I Stumbled through the Crash looking for Shaun, only to find him being carted off to a Verti-Bird by Soldiers, with Kellogg behind him."

"Did he look different?" Nate inquired. Macready Shrugged.

"Dunno, Maybe. It's been two years after all. He asked me If I knew who he was, I said yes, he said 'Good.' and Shot me in the stomach before shooting me again, luckily that bullet missed I think. I passed out after some Debris collapsed on top of me."

Catherine turned his head to the side, hissing through her teeth. "Umm...Can you see anything out of your left eye?"

"Uuh...No? Why?" Macready replied, sounding worried at her tone.

"Shit, The bullet's still in there." She muttered. "That won't do any of us good."

"Welcome to the Club, Macready." Bray snickered, walking out of the Plane, staring at his Pip-Boy intently. "I've got the Black Box records...Something's off about them."

He pressed a button on his Pip-Boy, transferring the Data to Nate's. The General read the columns of text. "They flew to Ami? Miami? Why..." He muttered. "Why would they fly all the way there? Is there even anything left there?"

Bray frowned. "I don't know, but It might be our best bet for finding Shaun and putting down the Remnant."

"So that's what you've been up to?" Macready chuckled. "Fighting wars again, Nate?"

"Been good at it, so why stop?" Nate reread the Data, another file was sent to his Pip-Boy, opening it up revealed Schematics. "What're these?"

"Those are schematics for a Jet-Powered Vertibird." Bray stated Simply. "Or as I like to call it, a VTOL. Speaking of which."

An ear piercing whine ripped through the Night air as a dark figure zoomed across the sky. A vertibird-like jet with a streamlined appearance landed in a clearing a few feet away.

"There's my ride. I'd recommend you give that to the Brotherhood, Dr. Mobius sends his regards." Bray stated smugly, walking off towards the Verti-bird. "I shall return!"

"Wait, Where is he going?" Nate asked, watching the Courier board the VTOL and take off.

"He's got connections in the Gator Keys, Probably going to contact them." Catherine suggested, fishing into her pack.

Nate nodded, grabbing a flare from his belt and snapping it, tossing it to the side as the Red smoke billowed out.

Catherine however, pulled out a device that didn't look man-made. Before Nate could ask, she quickly explained. "I need to get that bullet out of his head, Also That bullet that hit his stomach fragmented; I'll need to perform surgery, and I have a facilities just for it."

Before Nate could ask Where, She stabbed the Device into the ground, 3 prongs digging into the Dirt. The Device beeped and Catherine and Macready disappeared in a flash of light. The device, obviously a Beacon, falling over and fizzling out.

Nate stared into the Sky, now standing alone. "Alien Tech. Old World Tech." He mused, Visor clamping shut. "They're trying to one up me."

He pivoted on his heel and looked up to the hovering Verti-Bird, He lept, his jump boosted, and landed inside.

"Sir?" The Pilot inquired. "Where are your Companions?"

"On their own ways home, Soldier." Nate replied, squatting next to the Minigun. "Now Take us Home."

The Pilot nodded "Yes sir."


[Bray's Personal VTOL]

The cockpit door slid open, Bray stepped through and sat in the Co-Pilot's chair. The Pilot chair unoccupied, the Flight stick moving on it's own.

"Lucky 38, Max Speed." Bray ordered, the VTOL noticeably speeding up. "Yes Man, You there?"

"Sure am, Boss!" The Goofy AI replied. "And I'm not alone. Mrs. Santangelo would like to speak with you."

A sound of a crash over the Com made Bray jump. "BRAAAY!" Veronica yelled, causing the Courier to wince. "Where are you!?"

"On my Way, Sweetheart." He replied quickly, trying to work Damage control. "I need to talk with Swank, Can you call him up to my Office? I'll be there in about 2 hours."

"Sure, Mister President." She snarked. "Would you like some Tea while I'm at it?"

"Why did I hire her as my Secretary?" Bray muttered to himself, leaning back for a nap.


[Mothership Zeta]

The Warp was disorienting, but the Familiar sterile atmosphere of Mothership Zeta was welcoming to Catherine. She zipped up her pack, turning her attention to Macready, who had fallen unconscious. She rolled her eyes, grabbing and lifting him up onto her shoulders.

The door hissed and slid open, two Officers walked in and Saluted, their Enclave uniforms clean and orderly. "Captain." They greeted. "Welcome Back, We've prepared full Data reports for your inspection."

"Thank you." Catherine replied, struggling with Macready's weight. "Prepare a Medical Room for Emergancy Surgery."

They nodded, One ran off to do so, while the other helped her with Macready. As they walked the metallic halls, another Officer broke off from Patrol to take Catherine's place. They both carried him to the nearest room with Catherine following right behind.

Someone handed her some clean clothes and a Surgery Apron. When they arrived at the Medical Room, she sent them off and stripped off her old clothes and slipped into the clean ones and Apron. Handing off the Dirty clothes to a passing Officer to be washed, she shuffled around the Medical room for the necessary equipment.

Two Vials of Bio-Gel, 3 Scalpels, 2 Tweezers, and various other Medical appliances.

She set the equipment on a tray and wheeled it next to the Operating Table where Macready lay. She grabbed his wrist, sticking an IV into the Vein there. He winced at the sharp pain, but soon relaxed as some Med-X was pumped into him.

She Cut the bottom half of his Shirt off, revealing his bloody abdomen. She got to work finding and extracting the Bullet Fragments.
The tiny metallic pieces clattered onto the tray, wiping the blood away and stitching the wounds, Catherine turned her attention to Macready's head. A hole and Gash where his left eye was. She bit her lip, before readying the tweezers.


[Elsewhere...]

Kyle sniffed the air, the dreaded scent of blood filled his nose. It reminded him of Little Paradise back in Alaska. He heard of the Legion, of course. But he was in their capital.

"Flagstaff, Arizona." He said, looking up at the Large sign along the Road. "Time to find out if they're worth my time."

He continued walking, joints creaking as beating filled the air. The ground rumbled as loud cheers grew in pitch. From his isolated walk, he could see large Tents and Buildings, along with a Makeshift arena. It didn't impress him, but it was an interesting sight.

He caught a large group running along the hills just nearby, surprisingly, they were on Horseback...dragging a man along by his wrists.

"Romans, My Ass." The Chosen one scoffed. "More like the Mongols, I would love to see that."

The Beating of hooves grew louder as the large group of legionaries grew closer. On the lead horse, and by extension the one dragging the man, was a Legionnaire in heavy Bronze Armor.

Kyle stopped as they noticed and moved towards him. An eyebrow raised when they split and trampled past him, narrowly dodging the roped man.

The Leader reared his horse, dismounting it. He patted it's mane, sparing a glance at the bound man being dragged.

"Stay Put, Clepta." He warned. Kyle recognized the final word as Latin. Translated, it meant Thief.

The armored Leader walked up to him, Standing to his full height. Kyle however, was his height, maybe a few inches taller, so intimidation was out the window.

The stared at one another for a moment.

"Welcome to Flagstaff, Traveler." He croaked, bowing his head. "I am Ceaser and Former Legate Lanius."

"Kyle Lively." He replied, looking bored.

"Ah, I am familiar with that Name." Lanius chuckled, nodding his head towards his Soldiers. "Your worth a hefty Price...Chosen One."

The Soldiers went for their guns, Kyle was faster. A modded Colt pistol in his grasp within seconds, he picked them off quickly, only to be bull-rushed by Lanius. (No Pun Intended)

The Armored Former Legate failed to Predict Kyle's Cybernetics. A single hard punch to his Armor dented the Bronze plating and sent him flying backwards about 10 feet. Instead of falling, Lanius stayed standing, albeit disoriented.

"Impressive." He boomed, chuckling and rubbing the dented chestplate. "I see a hand-to-hand fight would be in your favor, as well as a firefight."

Kyle stared at him.

"I don't wish to end the lives of anymore of my men." He stated calmly, calling and mounting his horse. "Your welcome in Flagstaff, Chosen One. You may enjoy our hospitality while your here."

"I'd rather not wake up to find my wrists tied to a horse..." Kyle snarked, eyebrows raised.

Lanius pointed to the bound man. "This man is a Thief, stealing from our Slaves." He explained. "That is unacceptable, deserving a capital Punishment."

"You care about your Slaves?" Kyle narrowed his eyes. "That's a new one."

"A great man once told me that you must protect your own, even the Poorest citizen." Lanius said, reaching to his Belt Satchel. "...And even the Travelers in our lands."

He pulled a small coin off his belt and tossed it to Kyle, who caught it. He inspected it, it being a Medallion of sorts.

"Be mindful of that mark, Chosen One." Lanius warned, mounting his horse. "The last Wanderer to receive wasn't as accepting of our ways, He might take it as a sign of Association. Despite his influence on our Culture, he still does not trust a Legionnaire."

With that, they Rode off back towards the Arena, to the crowd's applause.

Kyle stared at the coin in a mixture of interest and disgust. He decided to keep it, setting it in his pouch for continuing on the road.

Maybe he'd drop by the Capital Wasteland on the way.


What? I wouldn't kill Macready...Yet. :3

Return of Lanius, Mothership Zeta, Yes-Man, Veronica, and Lanius. Yay!

Nate's armor is cool. Bray's VTOL and Catherine's Spaceship? Better.

Crucial Detail too! If the Enclave is working for Catherine...Then who is the Remnant?

WE'RE OFF FOR MIAMI!


F.A.Q.

-The VTOL, The Think Tank wanted to make a Verti-Bird cross the Country in less than 2 hours. Bray's suggest? Attach some jets to it. It worked!

-After their Defeat in the Capital Wasteland and the Brotherhood's Corruption, Catherine recruited the surviving Enclave Officers, Scientists, and Soldiers to work with her on Mothership Zeta. No Mutiny has been attempted for the fear of Catherine wiping them out.

-Influence from the Courier turned Lanius from a Brutal Leader to a Brutal yet Just One. The Legion and New Vegas Enclave have an active Non-Aggression Pact and trade regularly. It is just as common to see Legion Soldiers on the Strip as well as NCR Soldiers nowadays.

-Macready's head wound assessment: "Imagine Carl from Walking Dead."