Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. Fallout New Vegas belongs to the respective owners.

Savior

03

If Hell existed like Joshua told her, Elise was pretty sure it was called Nipton.

While Elise had never been to Nipton, she was pretty sure the crucifixions and stench of burning skin was a new addition. She pulled her bandana over her nose and mouth before she gagged. The moans of the dying and the smell of the dead was rapidly bringing her back to the night that she lost everything. She wanted to get out of here as soon as possible, but she had to look for survivors first. Well, besides the maniac that went running past her screaming about a lottery. ED-E went to shoot him but Elise held her hand up and watched him as he continued running. Weirdo.

Elise cautiously walked down the main street and she could make out shapes at the end of the road through the smoke. Before she made it that far, though, she stopped and put a bullet in the head of every person on a cross. They were too far gone to be saved, but Elise knew from experience how awful it was to just sit and wait for death to claim you.

She made it down the end of the street and she wished she hadn't. She knew that this mess had Legion written all over it, but she hadn't expected anyone to still be here. It was the Frumentarii, she recognized the dog head that the leader wore. It was too late to run so she continued forward.

"Don't worry, I won't have you lashed to a cross like the rest of these degenerates. It's useful that you happened by. I want you to witness the fate of the town of Nipton, to memorize every detail. And then, when you move on? I want you to teach everyone to meet the lesson that Caesar's Legion taught here, especially any NCR troops you run across." The voice tipped her off. It was Vulpes Inculta, who was just a soldier when she was at The Fort. Apparently he had climbed the social ladder, so to speak.

"And what "lessons" did you teach here, Frumentarius?"

The man paused. "You sound familiar, woman."

Elise rolled her eyes and pulled down her bandana. "Hello, Vulpes Inculta."

Vulpes mouth twisted into a scowl. "Elise Graham. I thought you were dead."

Elise smiled charmingly. "Almost. But I'd have to say, some idiot from New Vegas did a better job trying than your Caesar did."

The Frumentarious was ignoring her at this point. "The lesson... where to begin? That they were weak, and we were strong? That much was known already. But the depths of their moral sickness, their dissolution? Nipton serves as the perfect lesson."

Elise narrowed her eyes. "What did you do? And why?"

"Nipton was a wicked place, debased and corrupt. It served everyone, so long as they paid. Profligate troops, Powder Gangers, Legion men such as myself- Nipton didn't care. It was a town of whores."

"Welcome to Mankind, Vulpes. We've been waiting for you to join us for quite awhile."

He gave no inclination that he heard her other than a slight quirk of his mouth. "For a pittance, the town agreed to lead those it had sheltered into a trap. Only when I sprang it did they realize they were caught inside it, too."

"So, you betrayed people that trusted you and captured them as a punishment for them betraying people that trusted them. Glad to see the Legion still caters to hypocrites." Elise was tired and cranky, and talking to the nasal-voiced man was giving her a migraine on top of the headache her bullet wound already provided.

"We herded them to the center of town. I told them of their sins, the foremost being disloyalty.. I told them that when Legionaries are disloyal, some are punished, others made to watch. You already know this. Then I announced the lottery. Each held his ticket, hoping it would set him free. They did nothing, even when their "loved ones" were dragged away and killed."

Elise's heart constricted. "You killed innocent civilians."

Vulpes scoffed, "Innocent? Hardly. Cowardly, though. They outnumbered us, yet not once did they try to resist. They stood and watched as their companions were butchered, crucified, and burned. One by one. They cared only for themselves."

Elise just frowned. "So, you're going to kill me now?" Elise knew she was so match for this many Legionaries. And, as much as she wanted to, if she tried to kill him she would die herself.

The man smirked. "No, I don't think so. It's... interesting that you are still alive. Though, I'm sure that you will be hearing from Caesar soon. Till then, I bid you "Vale"- until we meet again, Elise Graham."

Elise watched as the men followed Vulpes Inculta away from the town, leaving her standing in a burning town with a feeling of dread. ED-E beeped warningly and Elise nodded. "Time to leave, ED-E. Novac shouldn't far.


"What do you mean I have to help you first? Please tell me you just want a water or something." Elise was glaring at Manny Vargas, ex-Great Kahn and NCR 1st Recon Sniper.

Manny laughed. "Sorry, but it's not nearly that simple." Ignoring Elise's mutter of "'course not", Manny straightened up. "Feral ghouls have been wandering into town lately, apparently they have set up shop at the REPCONN test site. Novac scavenges supplies there, so I need them gone. If you do that, I will happily tell you everything you need to know."

Elise groaned. "Fine. I'll do it. But do you know if the hotel is renting right now? I need to sleep off this headache."

Manny nodded. "Yeah, there's a room open, I think. Jeannie May will be able to help. She's at the front desk."

"Thanks, I guess." Elise walked back into the odd shop, waving at Cliff Briscoe on the way past. She made her way through the courtyard and into the front shop yawning.

Jeannie May was a frail looking woman, and Elise didn't like something her. She stared into nothing until Elise walked up and she jumped. "Well. Walcome to you. You look tired, why don't you relax for a spell and let this fine town take care of you?"

Elise gave her a little smile. "I'm new in town. Can I get a room?"

Jeannie perked right up. "Sure! How about this, for 100 caps you can stay until the busy season." Elise nodded, seeing as she was pretty sure Novac was never going to see a busy season again. She counted out the caps and slid them across the table while Jeannie fished out the key from the safe in the floor. "There you go! Have a good rest now."

Elise nodded and made her way to the room. It was dirty, but it would work. She carefully peeled her Merc armor that she scavenged from Primm and collapsed onto the bed.


"Girl! Do me a favor, please?" Elise jumped at the sound of Nina's voice, her head cracking on the table she was scrubbing. "Oh, sorry, Elise."

Elise stood up, rubbing her scalp. "It's alright. What do you need?"

"I need to get this mended armor to the Praetorian guard Gnaeus but I need to get started on dinner. Could you deliver it for me?"

Elise scowled. The reason why she enjoyed the kitchens so much is because she very rarely had to deal with the Legionares. But with the look Nina was giving her, she knew saying no was not an option. "I guess so. Not that I really want to or anything."

Nina gave her a sympathetic look and a rough pat on the back. "Just keep your head down and you'll be alright. Walk fast now."

Elise quickly walked through the camp, knowing exactly where she needed to go. Caesar's camp at Flagstaff was a large maze, but the kitchen was centrally located so it didn't take long to get where she needed to be. She always kept her head down, weaving in and out of the crowd, ignoring the screams of pain and laughs that always seemed to ring throughout the Legion Capitol.

Reaching her destination, she knocked hesitantly and entered. She kept her head down as she went to put the armor on the stand, as usual. "You're armor, sir."

A deep baritone laugh broke her concentration. She looked up quickly to see the Malpais Legate smirking at her, his bright blue eyes shining. She gasped and backed up, stammering out "I'm so sorry!" She kept backing out the doorway running into something solid that hadn't been there before.

She turned around and her eyes widened further at Gnaeus, who gave her a dirty glare. "Stupid bitch! Watch where you're going!"

The right side of her face exploded with pain. Elise grabbed at her eye as she fell backwards, numbly registering that she fell back onto the Legate's feet, which she would be more like be hit for again. Or worse.

She heard the man above her draw his gun and she kept her eyes closed, waiting for the final blow of pain. She was going to die, and it was all for a stupid piece of armor.

A gun shot rang out and a body slumped to the floor. It took a second for Elise to realize she was still alive. She felt the man behind her move and she warily opened her eyes. Well, the one she could open anyways. Joshua Graham was crouched in front of her and was studying her eye. From here Elise could see the colorful ornate stitching on his otherwise plain white shirt and could easily read the SLCPD on his vest. "Are you alright?"

Elise nodded slowly, although she didn't feel alright. Her right eye was swollen already and she wondered if her cheek bone wasn't broken. She looked around to see Gnaeus dead, a bullet directly between his eyes and she gulped. Now she was definitely going to die.

Joshua followed her line of sight and grinned, it was almost feral. "I was here to tell Gnaeus of his punishment, but I guess he got the memo at any rate. What is your name?"

Elise swallowed. "It's.. Elise."

"Hello, Elise. My name is Joshua Graham, but you can call me Joshua. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other soon." That smile was positively lethal.


When Elise woke up, it was dark. She had laid down at midday, and by checking her Pipboy, she realized it was just a little after eleven. She rubbed her eyes and thought back to the weird dreams she'd been having. Only they weren't really dreams, more or less flashbacks of her past. She'd need to ask Doc Mitchell if that was normal after a shot in the head.

She stood and stretched and smiled at ED-E, who was hovering by the door. She looked over at he shoulder where she had been shot in Primm. With the help of a Stimpak, it had stitched together nicely.

She debated laying back down and going back to sleep, but she realized that she hadn't talked to Manny much. As in, he didn't tell her where the REPCONN test site was. She pulled on her armor and grabbed a fresh apple, "Alright, ED-E." She took a bite and looked thoughtful. "Should we go bother Manny some more, or just go and try to find this place?"

ED-E made a series of clicks and beeps. Elise sighed. "I need a companion who can talk to me."

Novac was eerie at night, Elise would give it that. She walked through the shop to get to the Sniper's Nest, she swore those creepy dino toys were following her with their beady little eyes.

As she opened the door, the figure behind it jumped. "Goddamn! Don't scare me like that! What do you want?" This was a different man. He was handsome, with tanned skin and cold eyes. He was wearing the same red beret Manny did.

"You're not Manny..." She backed up until her back hit the door.

The man glared at her. "He's the day sniper. I'm the night sniper."

"Alright, then. Expecting visitors?" Elise didn't know where she was going with that, but this man seemed to draw her in.

"Yeah. I guess maybe I am. But not like you. Hmm. Maybe it should've been you I was expecting all along." The man's voice was smooth and it helped relax her, even though she knew that she shouldn't.

"Ok...ay.. What are you waiting for?"

"I think you should leave."

"Hey! I was just making friendly conversation. No need to get offended."

His glare intensified. "I don't have friends here."

Elise smiled cheekily. "I guess it's a good thing I'm not from here, then."

"No. No, you're not, are you? Maybe you shouldn't go. Not just yet."

Elise fought a groan. "Now you want something from me." She ran her hand through her bedraggled hair.

"I need someone I can trust. You're a stranger. That's a start."

"Ugh. What do you need me to do?"

"I said it was a start. No one looks me in the eye anymore in this town." Frustration colored his voice. "I want you to find something out for me. I'm not even sure there's anything to find, but I need someone to try. My wife was taken from our home by Legion slavers one night while I was on watch. They knew when to come and what route to take, and they only took Carla. Someone set it up. I don't know who."

If the man noticed that Elise tensed up, he didn't show it. Her hands started to shake. "You're trying to track down your wife?"

"My wife's dead. I want the son of a bitch who sold her." Frustration turned to anger.

"How do you know she's dead?"

"I just do, alright? That's all you need to know. Bring him out in front of the nest while I'm on duty. I'll give you my NCR beret to put on. It'll be our signal so I know you're standing with him. And I'll take care of the rest. I need to do this myself." He took off his beret and handed it to Elise

She took the beret and turned it over in her hands before nodding. "Alright, I'll do it."

A grim look came over his face. "Good. I'll make it worth your while. And we shouldn't speak again, not until it's over."

"Alright. I'll find out as soon as I can." Elise backed out the door. She knew the first person she was going to check out.

Walking down the steps, the first place she headed was to the front office of the Dino Dee-Lite hotel. She snuck in the door and looked around the corner, relieved to see it empty. Then again, why wouldn't it be? Elise checked her Pipboy, it was a little after midnight. She switched the light on and it illuminated the office. "ED-E, keep watch." The robot beeped helpfully.

Elise wasn't sure where to look first, so she started with the desk. She rifled through the papers, the drawers. She moved onto the shelving and peered behind the cabinets. She even got down on her hands and knees and looked under the vending machines. She groaned and smacked her head. "Damn it, I really thought it was her!" She stood up and dusted herself off, but something caught her eye. "The safe! How could I be so stupid!" ED-E beeped in an almost reproachful manner. "Don't talk to me like that. If she sold the girl, there has to be something in that safe. If not, I'll just put it all back. No harm done, right?"

She walked over the safe and crouched down, peering at it. It was a standard safe, not extra security. It wouldn't be hard to get into. ED-E, make sure no one gets in this room while I'm working on this." She got a series of short clicks. "Yes, and if I'm wrong, I will apologize for breaking into her safe and thinking she was human-selling psycho. Promise."

She took a bobby pin out of her hair and pulled her screw driver out of her front pocket and got to work.

It only took five minutes and one bobby pin and she was holding the Bill of Sale. Reading it over, nausea settled in. She was pregnant, and the cunt sold her. For a lousy 1500 caps. Elise had to quell the urge to kill her without the man's help. Jeannie would get what's coming to her, Elise would make sure of it.

Getting Jeannie to the front of the dinosaur was surprisingly easy. All she had to tell her was that she needed to see something in front of the dinosaur and she followed. They were getting close now and Elise pulled the beret out of her pocket. She wanted to do it, which surprised her. She had never really wanted to kill another human being as much as she wanted to kill this woman. Elise was a slave, she knew what it was like. Not even the worst human being in this wasteland deserved it, let alone a pregnant woman. She put the beret on.

She smiled back at Jeannie. "Not much farther now, right about here." She stopped and pointed up at the Sniper's Nest. "See?"

Jeannie looked up. "I don't see-" Her head exploded, raining blood and brain matter all over Elise. Elise wiped her eyes and kicked Jeannie's corpse for good measure before walking towards the dinosaur. Sick bitch.

Elise was still wiping her face off when she reached the Nest. The man, who she only knew as Boone by the Bill of Sale, turned to her. "That's it, then. How did you know?

Elise reached into her pocket, gagging as a piece of skull clung to her fingers before she flung it off. She handed him the paper. "I found the Bill of Sale."

He took it from her, staring down at it before stuffing it into his pocket. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised. It'd be like them to keep paperwork." Elise took the beret off and brushed it off quickly, frowning when the gray tissue still stuck. She handed it to him and he handed her a small sack of caps. "Here. This is all I can give. I think our dealings are done here."

Elise shook her head. "I don't want your money." She handed it back to him and he gave her a surprised look. "Listen, I was in your wife's situation. Only I survived. This gets rid of one more sick fuck in the world and it makes me sleep a little easier at night."

He continued to study her before putting the caps back in his pocket, "Thank you."

Elise gave him a small smile. "You're welcome. What will you do now?"

The man shrugged. "I don't know. I won't be staying. Don't see much point in anything right now, except hunting legionaries. Maybe I'll wander. Like you."

"I thought snipers worked in pairs."

He looked confused for a minute before catching on. His lips turned into a smirk. "Huh. Yeah. Working on your own, you're a lot less effective. I've been there and paid for it. But this isn't going to end well."

Elise's smile only widened. She held out her hand. "I'm Elise."

He put his hand in hers, giving it a firm shake. "Call me Boone."


A/N: I LOVE writing this. Seriously. It should be a crime how much time I'm putting into this. But I have so many different ideas, it's hard for me to stop. Anyways, I hope you like it and thank you for the reviews/alerts/favorites! They make me so happy, especially since I wasn't expecting this to really go anywhere. Also, if you notice spelling mistakes, I'm sorry. I have no beta and I'm a single mom, so I only write during my son's nap times. Proofreading sometimes takes a back seat. But, if you can, leave me a review and let me know if you like it. We're getting to the exciting parts now.