Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize. Fallout New Vegas and it's characters belong to the respective owners.

Savior

07

"What do you think of children?"

The question startled Elise. She looked at her companion and raised an eyebrow. "Children? Really, Joshua?"

Joshua sat next to her on the bank of the hill, his eyes focused on the water below. "Yes, children. Not right now, but after we secure Vegas."

Gulping, Elise focused on the ripples in the water. The sun was setting over Flagstaff, the dry air was already cooling. Goosebumps broke out over her arms, and Elise didn't want to think if they came from the air or the subject of the current conversation. "I've never thought of children. Ever. I've never really considered it, especially after.." She trailed off and sighed, picking at the strings of her top.

"Was there someone before me?" Joshua was still focused on the water, as calm as ever.

"Er... not really. I mean, there was a man I grew up with. Our parents thought we would end up together. It never really got the chance to go past friends. I don't know what happened to him."

"Hmm. I suppose I should be thankful for that."

"Is there a reason why you asked?"

"Not really. I was just curious about your life before Legion. Tribal culture interests me."

"I've never asked, where are you from?"

"I'm from a place called New Canaan."

Elise perked up. "Oh, I've heard of New Canaan. My father traveled there often. It's a Mormon settlement, right?"

"It is. I'm always amazed that you know so much, growing up in a tribe." His voice had a mocking tone to it, but Elise was not ruffled.

"We weren't raiders, you know. My tribe, my parents in particular, believed in education. You can not be a stupid trader, after all. It's bad for business."

"Caesar approved of our union. You can move at any time."

The change in conversation sent her reeling. "What? He knows? Why aren't you dead?"

Elise's blunt words caused a deep chuckle. "I am Malpais Legate. I want you as my wife, thus you are mine." Joshua's blue eyes caught Elise's and a small smirk graces his lips. "No one will tell you different, I assure you. You are mine."

Her mouth went dry and Elise found herself desperately looking for something to say. She didn't have to worry for long, for the Legate's mouth was on hers in an instant.


Elise stumbled out of her bedroom at the Lucky 38, scratching her scalp and bumping into ED-E. The robot beeped at her, almost sounding annoyed. Rushing into the bathroom, she fells to her knees in front of the toilet and gagged as a wave of nausea swept over her. She kept still, waiting for the feeling to pass before collapsing to the floor.

There was a knock at the door and she barely looked up to see Arcade Gannon stick his blond head in.

Elise had managed to talk him into traveling with her after going to see the Followers about her head injury. He had only been with them for a week, but Elise had immediately liked his quick wit and personality. His speaking Latin took her off guard, but Elise knew there was no way he was Legion.

"Are you alright?" Elise shot him a look. "Right, stupid question. See? This is why I'm not a doctor."

That made Elise giggle despite herself. "I'm alright, Arcade. It was just a dream."

"A memory again? Maybe talking about it would help."

Elise sat up, wiping her face with her hands. "I would love to talk about it, I really would. But these are the kind of memories that would get me killed."

"I think everyone has those kind of memories. But nevertheless, I think you need to talk about it. Have you told anyone about your memories?" Arcade's voice was kind, but Elise did not like where this was going.

"Doc Mitchell at Goodsprings. He's the one who saved my life. I just kind of... broke down."

"Well, I mean, it's understandable. You were shot in the head and survived. Not many people can say that."

Elise sighed and stood. "I know. And I'm grateful. But these memories are better off staying buried, and they won't stay that way."

"I think you should go see this Doc Mitchell. Maybe when he was digging the bullet out of your head, he nicked your Cerebrum."

Elise stood. "Right, I'll pretend I know what you're talking about. But seeing Doc will have to wait, I have to go see Benny today." Walking out the door, she bumped into Boone, who she had not seen lurking in the door way.

Boone was scowling, his distaste written all over his features. "I don't know why you insist on working with the bastard."

Arcade scoffed but appeared to agree. "He's right, Elise. You shouldn't trust him. I mean, it's not like he shot you- oh, wait, he did!"

Elise groaned and walked away from her companions, into her room. "He still has my gun!" She shut the door behind her and smirked when she heard Boone's annoyed huff.

She heard a grumble to her right and she looked at Rex, who was giving her an odd look. "Don't you give me attitude, too! I'm tired of being around men all the time, all you do is complain!" Rex seemed to roll his eyes at her and laid his head back down.


The Tops was busy, especially for early morning. People milled about, some still drunk from the night before. Elise smiled at Swank who had waved and walked up, leaning her arms on the counter. "Hey, Swank. Where's Benny?"

Swank groaned. "Baby, when are you gonna realize that I can do you better than Benny ever could?"

Elise giggled. "That I don't doubt in the least. But really, this isn't a social call, I just need to speak with him for a few."

"Well, sorry to tell you this babydoll, but Benny's been gone for a few days now. Said he had something to take care of. You wouldn't know anything about this, would ya?"

Elise smacked her hand against her forehead in frustration. "I have absolutely no idea where he went. He didn't say where he was going?"

"Baby, he won't tell me anything. Sorry." She waved him off, refusing to give into the disappointment. She turned to leave, but Swank caught her arm. "Wait, I forgot he told me to give this to you." She heard him rustle under the counter.

Elise turned and her heart exploded in her chest. In Swank's hands rested her gun, her beautiful .45. She gulped as she took it in her hands and she almost felt complete. The metal still shined brightly in the lights and she turned it over, inspecting it for any defects she would kill Benny for. There was nothing, it was still perfect.

She looked up at Swank and gave him a bright smile. "Thank you, so much."

"I take it that gun means a lot to you. Benny said to keep it safe until I gave it to you."

Elise nodded. "Yeah, it was my husband's. He gave it to me before he passed, and I've had it ever since. Benny took it when... well, you know."

Swank's eyes went straight to the scar on her temple before he rolled them. "Benny's such a fink at times. Don't hold it against him."


"He's at the Fort, Miss Graham. He took the chip that you most kindly let him keep and took it to the Fort."

Elise rubbed the bridge of her nose. Meetings with House were her least favorite part of the day. She was now happy that none of her companions could join the meetings, especially since the computer decided to use her husband's last name. "So, I take it I'm supposed to go after him, right?"

"Lucky for you, Benny's escape worked right into my plans. I was going to send you there once you got it, anyways." The voice coming out of the speakers was laced with distaste.

Feeling a shiver go up her spine, she frowned. "You call me by my last name, which means you know where I'm from. And yet you're going to send me back there."

"True, your past is unfortunate. But yes, you have to go to the Fort. I don't care how you get in, but see so that you do. Once you get there and have the chip, there is a pre-war weather station at the pack of the camp. On the floor there is a door that will take you to the elevator. Once you get to that point, I will contact you."

"So, that's it then? 'Bye, hopefully Caesar won't skin you?' He's going to kill me as soon as he sees me. He will know who I am. And if he doesn't, my companions will!"

House's voice became terse and the screen flickered. "You'll have to be clever then, won't you?" The screen flickered, showing the transmission was over.

Growling to herself, Elise turned and stomped up the stairs. She stormed into the elevator and pressed the button for the suite, ignoring Victor completely.

Elise was packing for the long trek to the Fort. She had plenty of stims, her ammo, food and clean water. She had her .45 on on her hip, where she belonged and her shotgun and sniper rifle strapped to her back. Her leather armor had seen better days, but it would have to do.

She was buckling her boots when Boone walked in, eying her. "Where are you going that you're packing so much?"

"I'm going to The Fort, Boone." There was a resigned tone to her voice. "I have to go. Benny ran there and I have to follow."

"And you weren't going to tell either of us, were you?" Arcade was now standing behind Boone. "You will not survive if you go there on your own, you know that. You're an escaped slave, and with that hair of yours-"

"I'm not going to survive either way, Arcade." She finished buckling the last buckle. "I'm going to go there and, at the very least try to make it out. But if I go own my own, it will be easier to sneak back out."

"You're not going on your own." Boone stepped up and looked directly into her eyes. "Now, let's go."

With the entire party in tow, Elise walked out of the Lucky 38 and almost ran straight into a man. A angular face in a high end pre-war business suit, he watched her stumble calmly. Something about the man creeped her out, but was almost recognizable.

"The eyes of the mighty Caesar are upon you. He admires your accomplishments, and bestows on you the exceptional gift of his Mark. Your crimes against the Legion are forgiven." The voice gave him away, it was Vulpes Inculta. Elise smiled. "Caesar will not give you this mercy again. My Lord requires your presence at-"

Elise pulled her .45 and the Frumentarii dropped to the ground, not even given a chance to react before a bullet made it's way through his skull. As his blood pooled on the ground she turned around and smirked at her gun. Still worked.

Boone and Arcade just watched her, shocked looks on their faces. Raising and eyebrow, she turned to them. "You don't recognize him from the NCR's posters, Boone?"

"No."

"This is Vulpes Inculta, head of the Frumentarii. I saw him in Nipton after he crucified and burned the inhabitants." He was also rising in the ranks when Elise was enslaved, but she kept that to herself.

"How did you know that?" Arcade bent down with her as she scavenged the corpse, picking up some ammo, bitter drink, and denarius that she could trade at Mick and Ralph's. She then picked up the chain with the silver disc on it, stamped with a bull. "How did you know it was him?"

"His voice. He had that weird voice." Elise stood and wiped the blood on her leather trousers. "I guess it's time to go."


The days to Cottonwood Cove were quiet, the silence only penetrated by gunshots and Rex's occasional growling. The only sounds she got out of Boone was one word answers and she knew Arcade was just as nervous as she was, every time she tried to talk to him he either made a noise or rambled for hours. Elise felt like she was going to crawl out of her skin, she was anxious and she had a headache.

They were only a few feet away when Boone stopped her. He grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop. Arcade discreetly walked ahead, stopping at a skeleton of a vehicle. "We need to talk." He hissed, pulling her a little farther back.

"Yeah, I got the memo when you started pulling my arm out of socket." She turned on him. "What is your problem, Boone? "

"I have to tell you know, if we go down there, I'm going in shooting."

Elise frowned. "That's my plan."

"This is where they tried to sell my wife, Elise. This is where I sat when I had to.." He took his hat off and rubbed his scalp, his frustration evident.

It dawned on her then. Boone knew his wife was dead because he killed her. He was a sniper. "Oh, Boone."

He put his hat back on and took a deep breath. "I just wanted to let you know. I don't know if we're gonna pull out of this, so I wanted to make sure that we want the same thing here."

Elise gave him a small smile before closing the distance between them. She pulled him into an embrace, looping her arms around his neck and burying her face into his chest. He was rigid for a moment before carefully wrapping his arms around her waist. They stayed like that for what seemed like forever, the Mojave sun beating down on them.

Elise pulled away and grinned up at her friend. "Come one, let's go get some revenge."


A/N: SORRY it's been sooo long. I had such a bad case of writer's block, it took me forever to get over. And I'm sorry it's rather short, but this is just kind of a filler chapter. But I'm back to having a lot of drive for this story, so much that I already have the first part of Elise's trip to Zion written out. So, let me know if you like it or hate it, gives me more drive. =)